A total of 26,000 tree seedlings were planted in Kirisia forest in Samburu central to mark Friday’s tree growing day.
Speaking while leading national and county government officials and Samburu residents in the tree planning exercise, Samburu county commissioner (CC) John Cheruiyot said that the trees were planted on 30,000 hectares of forest land which was previously occupied by encroachers.
The CC noted that the encroachers voluntarily vacated the forest land six years ago allowing the forest to replenish naturally after every rainy season adding that the 26,000 trees planted will increase the forest cover.
“Samburu has a tree cover of 25 percent and a forest cover of 23 percent and through the ongoing governments conservation efforts we may achieve 50 percent,” he said.
At the same time, Cheruiyot urged Samburu residents to avoid crossing swollen seasonal rivers during the ongoing rainy season noting that two people in Samburu County have died as a result of floods.
While reading the Environment Cabinet Secretary Sophia Tuya’s speech, Mathew Tsuma from the ministry of environment noted that their target as a ministry is to plant 500 million trees out of the government’s 15 billion trees and urged Samburu residents to continually plant trees in their homes, schools and churches.
“Every Kenyan citizen has an individual target of planting 30 trees annually and if we all adhere to this call the government shall easily achieve the 15 billion target,” he said.
Fred Shikuku, Samburu County Ecosystem Conservator assured that the tree seedlings will be looked after by his 63 Kenya Forest Service (KFS) Officers assisted by 100 scouts from the local Community Forest association (CFA).
An additional 250 avocado trees and 250 mango trees were distributed to different individuals and farmer’s groups with an aim of improving and diversifying local diet.
By Robert Githu
