The Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy in partnership with the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) and Kisii National Polytechnic has planted 6500 trees in Kisii county during this rainy season.
The trees were planted at Kanunda (2500 trees), Sakawa (3,000 trees) and Kiamwasi (1000 trees) primary schools in Kitutu Central Sub County, geared towards meeting the 5 million target of trees planted by the Ministry every year.
Speaking at Kanunda primary school, Secretary Administration (SA), State Department for Broadcasting and Telecommunications Juliana Yiapan lauded the partners and residents of Kisii for teaming up with the Ministry to plant trees and contribute towards environmental conservation.
“Every individual has a responsibility of ensuring that they take part in tree growing activities that will help to mitigate the effects of climate change,” said Yiapan.
She encouraged the media to be at the forefront in educating the public on the importance of planting trees to boost tree cover and combat the climate crisis.
Further, the Secretary Administration urged the parents to engage their children in growing fruit trees, which enhance food security and conserve the environment.
The residents who were led by the area Community Health Promoters Chairman, John Nyakundi thanked the Ministry for the initiative saying that most residents do not have the knowledge on the benefits of planting trees.
“We are grateful to President Dr. William Ruto for launching the National Tree Growing initiative last year and we are glad that our school here in Kanunda is a beneficiary of the same,” said a resident Susan Motoka.
Others present during the function included representatives from Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC), Kenya Yearbook Editorial Board, Postal Corporation of Kenya, Kenya News Agency, Kisii National Polytechnic and Omuga Technical and Vocational College from Homa bay county among others.
The Information Ministry launched the National Tree Growing Day in Kisii in November 2023 by planting 110,000 tree seedlings in a ceremony that was led by the State Department for Broadcasting and Telecommunications Principal Secretary Prof. Edward Kisiang’ani.
According to the Kisii County Forest Officer Manoah Oyioka, the county has a tree cover of 26.6 percent and aims to achieve 30 percent tree cover by 2032.
Consequently, Oyioka said that KFS is partnering with private farms and other institutions to plant 10 million trees in order to achieve that goal by 2032.
The Forest Officer urged the residents of Kisii to plant trees in their own private farms, especially during this rainy season.
In addition, he encouraged the farmers to plant fruit trees which can easily blend with other crops in farm lands and enhance food security.
This comes days after Kisii Governor Simba Arati distributed 200,000 Avocado fruit tree seedlings to farmers as a way of ensuring they access quality and affordable planting materials in order to boost avocado production in the region.
Some of the indigenous trees found in Kisii county include makhamia (Omwobo), croton (Omosocho)and briteria (Omotatankanga), while the exotic trees are eucalyptus, grevillea and pine trees.
By Mercy Osongo and Jane Naitore
