The government’s drive to plant 15 billion trees by the year 2032 remains firmly on course, with Ministries and State Departments continuing to lead in nationwide afforestation efforts towards the target.
On Friday, the Principal Administrative Secretary in the Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, Juliana Yapan (MBS), led a multi-agency team in a tree planting exercise at Tulwap-Kipsigis forest in Londiani, Kericho County where a total of 500 indigenous tree seedlings were planted.
Yapan, who was representing the National Development Implementation Coordination Committee of National Projects (NDICCNP), emphasized the significance of tree planting in safeguarding the environment and commended local communities for their role in forest conservation.
“This is a national cause that requires unity and commitment from all citizens. Communities living around forests are vital partners in ensuring the protection and restoration of these natural resources,” she said.
The exercise was part of a wider tour to inspect the progress of 51 Priority Projects under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) across Narok, Nakuru, Bomet, and Kericho counties.
Yapan noted that the projects were on course and largely within budget. She highlighted the Majengo Talai Affordable Housing Programme (AHP) Phase 1, where 322 units are under construction, with the contractor working round-the-clock to meet the deadline.
Additionally, she inspected the Kapsuser–Sosiot and Kapsuser–Kipsolu road projects, which are currently being upgraded to bitumen standards. The roads are 63 percent complete and on track to be finalized ahead of scheduled time.
Speaking at the event, State Department for Forestry Director of Planning, Lawrence Muthamia, revealed that since the tree-growing initiative began, over 803 million tree seedlings have been planted across the country, covering more than 535,000 hectares in all the 47 counties.
In Kericho, County Forest Conservator John Kidogo reported that 5.6 million tree seedlings have so far been planted across the county’s six sub-counties. He added that an additional 5 million seedlings are ready for planting, with the county targeting 16.3 million trees across 11,000 hectares.
“There are eight forest stations in the county, covering 71,712.76 hectares of forest. These forests comprise a mix of indigenous forest, plantations, grasslands, and bushlands,” Kidogo explained.
He further noted that various government stakeholders, including the Ministry of Energy, the National Treasury, Ministry of Interior, and the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), are actively involved in the tree-growing campaigns and broader forest conservation efforts.
Kericho and Bomet Counties Director of Delivery Unit Martin Rotich commended Londiani residents for being consistent in growing and protecting tree seedlings urging them to continue as the trees would help in mitigating the negative effects of climate change.
Mr. Rotich also called on contractors to expedite the delivery of projects with excellence for residents to benefit.
By Dominic Cheres and Gilbert Mutai
