Chiefs lead the way in national tree-planting exercise

Assistant Chief Tabitha Kirui (right) and Leonard Milgo, a teacher, plant a tree presented by officials from the Panda Miti Community Based Organization at the institution in Nairobi. [Edward Kiplimo, Standard]

Kenyans from different parts of the country on Monday, November 13, joined administration officers and chiefs in a national tree-planting exercise.

The exercise is part of the government's ambitious plan of growing 10 billion trees by 2032.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Prof. Kithure Kindiki had declared the day a public holiday for the public to take part in the environmental conservation initiative in a gazette notice dated November 6.

President William Ruto spearheaded the national tree-planting exercise in Kiu, Makindu, Makueni County, where he planted a tree and urged Kenyans to embrace the culture of tree planting.

In a joint statement on Sunday, November 12, Interior PS Raymond Omollo and his Forestry counterpart Gitonga Mugambi, said the government had mobilized the provision of seedlings across the counties and was in the process of distributing them to various places.

Omollo said the government would focus at the location level, where chiefs would coordinate the distribution of seedlings and mobilize residents in their localities to actively participate.

"This way, we will be able to maximize this day to grow as many trees as possible as we work towards attaining our ambitious goal of planting 15 billion trees by 2032," said Omollo.

The national tree-planting exercise aimed to plant 150 million trees across the country in one day, with the participation of Cabinet secretaries, government officials, chiefs, and local communities.

Various groups, organisations and Njukiri Community Forest Associaton plant trees at Camp Dunda falls in Manyatta constituency Embu County. [Muriithi Mugo, Standard]

Some of the regions that took part in the exercise include Nairobi, Marsabit, Garissa, Makueni, Embu Kirinyaga, Kwale, Homa Bay and Mandera counties.

The exercise was coordinated by the chiefs, who distributed tree seedlings to the locals and supervised the planting activities.