Governors, national government officials and leaders braved heavy rains in the Mt Kenya region to lead locals in marking the first National Tree Planting Day.
The leaders called on Kenyans to continue planting trees and nurturing them to maturity.
Cooperatives Cabinet Secretary Simon Chelugui, accompanied by Deputy Governor Stephen Munania, told cooperatives in the country to lead in the exercise to support the government agenda of planting 150 million trees.
"We are seeking all departments and agencies under the ministry to come up with a clear schedule on where and how the trees will be planted every month," said the CS.
Chelugui also asked the county government and the Kenya Forest Service to support the initiative, saying tree planting should be a continuous exercise.
Currently, Murang'a County has 27.8 per cent tree cover with a target of attaining more than 30 per cent in the next 12 months.
Lands Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahomes who led the tree planting in Gathiuru Forest, Nyeri county said the government was concerned with the conservation of water catchment areas.
"We are out to ensure we lead the way to have a clean environment," said Wahome.
She was joined by Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga, Timber Manufactures Association of Kenya official John Wakaba and county staff.
Nyeri County is the leading county in forest cover at 40.81 per cent and tree cover at 45.17 per cent, according to the Kenya Forest Service's July 2022 report.
"These statistics are not just numbers; they are a testament to the county's unwavering commitment to nurturing and safeguarding our natural heritage," Kahiga said.
The governor noted that the county is home to ecological treasures; forests and hills including Tumutumu, Karima, Thangathi, Karundu, Karindi and Ngamwa.
Tree planting also took place at the Nyewasco Kiganjo Water Treatment plant, in conjunction with the Department of Water, Environment, and Climate Change and Nyeri Water and Sanitation Company.
"I call on the Nyeri residents to join the noble walk in increasing our tree cover and ensuring we give our future generations a healthier Nyeri," Kahiga said.
In Isiolo County, which is one of the counties with the lowest tree cover at an estimated 6.7 per cent, Governor Abdi Guyo and Chief of Defence Forces General Francis Ogolla, participated in planting 1,112 tree seedlings at Waso Primary School.
Guyo called for Kinna, Kotim, Oldonyo Degushu and Motonyi forests to be gazetted to help the county develop forest-based micro-enterprises and community forest associations to increase indigenous forests in the county.
" The tree cover in our county is regrettably very low. Therefore, we need to gazette these areas as a participatory approach to manage our forests," he said.
In Laikipia county, Laikipia East MP Mwangi Kiunjuri and Women Representative Jane Kagiri led the tree planting in Nanyuki town.
The leaders emphasized the need for residents to be proactive in tree planting and using energy-saving jikos to conserve the environment.
"Through my office, I shall be contributing 100,000 tree seedlings to the area. This initiative would also generate job opportunities for the youth and women groups," he said.
Kagiri committed to ensuring that learning institutions in the area plant fruit trees starting next year.
"In Laikipia County, we have 473 schools. I will donate fruit tree seedlings starting next year so that learners can enjoy the fruits after the trees mature," she said.
In Tharaka Nithi, Governor Muthomi Njuki issued two Executive Orders to conserve natural forests.
Njuki said people were destroying forested hills in the county through charcoal burning in the guise of bee-keeping.
"We will longer allow charcoal burning and beekeeping in our hills," Njuki said.
The county chief cited the Kijege Hills, Kera and Munguni Hills as worst hit by charcoal burning and said banning beekeeping in areas will serve to protect them from destruction.
- Reports by Boniface Gikandi, Purity Mwangi, Lydiah Nyawira, Amos Kiarie and Phares Mutembei
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