Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Dr. Alfred Mutua and his Environment and Forestry counterpart, Soipan Tuya, have spearheaded a significant tree-planting exercise in the Mumoni Hills Forest, Mwingi North Constituency in Kitui County.
The duo called on the county residents to engage in massive tree activities, as the initiative is part of the government’s ambitious plan to achieve 30 per cent forest cover by 2032.
Dr. Mutua emphasised the urgency of this goal, stating that no resources should be spared in ensuring that the thirty per cent forest cover ambition is attained, lamenting that failing to meet this target could be far more costly.
The CS remarks align with President Dr. William Ruto’s comprehensive strategy to combat climate change through nationwide reforestation.
Dr. Mutua reiterated the government’s extensive plan, which targets to plant 15 billion trees over the next decade. This direction under President Ruto’s leadership signifies a “forward-looking and astute” approach to addressing threats from negative climate challenges, he added.
The CS underscored that to facilitate this massive tree-planting campaign, each cabinet secretary has been assigned specific forests and wetlands to oversee monthly planting activities.
“The Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife has been tasked with the reforestation efforts in Taita Taveta and Kitui counties, with a target of planting 4 million trees within the next year,” said the CS.
During the Mumoni Hills event, 13,000 trees were planted, with Dr. Mutua personally contributing by planting 110 trees. The exercise underscores the practical steps being taken to reach the target of 15 billion trees, with a focus on biodiversity.
He also advised the local residents to elect leaders with development-focused mindsets to ensure sustained progress.
On her part, Tuya explained that thirty per cent of the targeted 15 billion trees will be fruit trees and twenty per cent will be fodder, thus enhancing both environmental and economic benefits.
The event also saw participation from key officials, including the Principal Secretary for the State Department of Tourism, John Ololtuaa, and Gitonga Mugambi from the State Department of Forestry.
The County commissioner, Jepchumba Rutto, while speaking during the tree planting ceremony, urged the county residents to embrace tree planting in order to improve forest cover and fight negative climate change efforts.
Rutto appealed to the residents living in areas where ongoing tree planting is taking place, to protect the newly planted tree seedlings so that they could survive.
He cautioned the locals against grazing their livestock on the newly planted sites to avoid the destruction of the tree seedlings.
“Plans are in place to engage some members of the local residents in watering and protecting the newly planted tree seedlings for the next three months to ensure they mature,” the county commissioner said.
The County Deputy Governor, Augustine Kanani, who also graced the tree planting ceremony, disclosed that the extensive Mumoni Hill is home to a unique bird species called Hinde’s Babbler.
“The Hinde’s Babbler is a rare bird found only in Kenya, and due to this unique bird species, there is a need for my county to work jointly with the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife to make it a tourism attraction site,” he advised.
By Denson Mututo
