Buy a seedling or two, CS Tuya tells Kenyans ahead of Monday's tree planting

First Lady Rachel Ruto (second right) and Environment CS Soipan Tuya (extreme right). [Benjamin Sakwa, Standard]

The Government has appealed to Kenyans to buy seedlings from organisations selling them at the community level ahead of the Monday, November 13 tree planting exercise.

In a statement, Environment Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya said that by doing so, the country will achieve the targeted 100 million seedlings to be planted on Monday.

"There are millions of seedlings in private nurseries run by women and youth groups in Community Forest Association and Community Based Organisations across the country available at a fee. I urge all Kenyans to buy a seedling or two from these nurseries and plant in our shambas," said Tuya.

Further, it being a holiday, the CS urged Kenyans to join leaders in every county in planting trees at the designated sites.

Cabinet Secretaries and other government officials will oversee the exercise across every county.

The main will however take place in Makueni County, presided over by President William Ruto.

In Nairobi, the exercise will take place at the Bomas of Kenya and will be presided over by Head of Public Service, Felix Koskei, while Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi will be in Kirinyaga County at Thiba Dam, planting trees.

In Mombasa, Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen will lead others in planting trees at Gana-Hola. Murkomen is also expected to lead residents of Homa Bay County at the Gera Catchment area in tree planting.

Interior CS Kithure Kindiki will head the North Eastern Region. Kindiki will be at Garissa University and is also expected at a KDF camp in Wajir and KMTC in Mandera. He is also expected to grace the occasion at Hulahula FS and Elkalees Cultural Center in Marsabit and Turkana County respectively.

According to CS Tuya, the government hopes to plant at least 100 million seedlings on Monday and over 500 million by the end of the short rains season.

There are 150 million seedlings available at Kenya Research Institute and Kenya Forest Service.

The seedlings will be distributed across all 47 counties depending on the environmental factors and their commercial use.

Reiterating Tuya's sentiments, Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo said that the government has already convened a technical team in every county so as to ensure the exercise is successful.

Additionally, every area chief will be allocated a number of seedlings that Kenyans can collect on Monday.

"Public members are advised to visit their nearest chief's office for tree seedlings and liaise with the area Assistant County Commissioner and Deputy County Commissioner in respective counties," said Omollo.