Broadcasting and Telecommunications Principal Secretary Prof. Edward Kisiang’ani has encouraged the public to rally behind the presidential campaign to plant 15 billion trees across the country by 2032.
Speaking during a tree planting exercise at Nyanturago swamp in Kisii Central Sub-County, Prof. Kisiang’ani said that trees provide several benefits such as timber, fuel, and even absorption of dangerous gases emitted into the atmosphere.
“I am pleading with everyone to support the President’s tree-growing initiative so that we can reverse the effects of climate change that can completely wash us off the surface of this earth,” urged the PS.
He noted that President Dr. William Ruto has been instrumental in rallying the rest of the world towards Africa’s environmental crisis, adding that the country may spend a lot of money tackling the effects of climate change if the challenges are not addressed.
The PS decried the increasing human activities that had destroyed water catchments such as farming and quarrying activities near river sources.
“We are planting crops up to the river banks and conducting quarrying in river sources thereby destroying many sources of water, with some of the permanent rivers becoming seasonal, that is the crisis,” he said.
As a result, Prof. Kisiang’ani encouraged the national administration and county government officials to sensitise the public on the dangers of climate degradation and the gains that can be achieved through conserving and restoring the environment.
At the same time, he lauded Kisii County for achieving one of the highest forest covers in the country and urged the residents to replace eucalyptus trees with the largely untapped indigenous bamboo that can be used for animal feed or making furniture.
The PS added the Ministry of Information, Communications, and the Digital Economy has several state corporations that are willing to engage and support the growing of trees in Kisii and Nandi regions by providing tree seedlings for planting.
Further, he urged the leadership of the national and county governments in Kisii to hold a stakeholders’ meeting to address the protection of tree seedlings, once they have been planted.
According to the PS, the involvement of the community members, especially the young people in the tree-growing exercise will ensure they look after the trees until they grow.
“Let us encourage the youth to form small groups and set up tree nurseries in the region so that we can support them by purchasing the tree seedlings from them and enabling them to earn an income,” he affirmed.
The Information Ministry staff led by the PS planted 3050 tree seedlings in various locations within Kisii Central Sub-County during the tree-growing exercise.
Speaking at the same event, the County Executive Committee Member for Environment, Leah Ogega said the county is committed to planting 7.4 million trees yearly to achieve the national target of 15 billion trees.
Ogega encouraged the residents to plant more fruit trees for their nutritional value and take advantage of the subsidized Hass avocado tree seedlings available at the Agricultural Training Centre (ATC) on the outskirts of Kisii town.
The Information Ministry launched the National Tree Growing Day in Kisii in November 2023 by planting 110,000 tree seedlings in various sub-counties including Nyansaria Hills in Kisii South Sub County and Nyangweta forest in Etago Sub County.
In April 2024, the Ministry planted another 6500 trees at Kanunda (2500 trees), Sakawa (3,000 trees) and Kiamwasi (1000 trees) primary schools in Kitutu Central Sub County in an exercise geared towards meeting the 5 million target of trees planted by the Ministry every year.
According to statistics from the Kisii County Forest Office, the county has a tree cover of 26.6 percent and aims to achieve 30 percent tree cover by 2032.
By Mercy Osongo and Jane Naitore
