Murkomen, KPA bosses lead Coast residents to plant 20,000 trees

Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen yesterday led Mombasa residents in planting 10,000 trees in Mikindani, Jomvu sub-county.

Murkomen said his ministry targets to plant 30 million trees, with 20 million being planted by the State Department for Roads and 10 million by the State Department for Transport.

“So far, the State Department for Roads has planted 415,000 trees, while the State Department for Transport has managed 16,100 trees. During these short rains, we expect all agencies and divisions to meet half their targets by December 30,” he said.

Murkomen said the State Departments for Roads and Transport would be required to continue planting tree throughout the year and meet their respective targets by June next year.

“Deforestation, urbanisation, industrial development, agricultural expansion and unsustainable agricultural practices are undermining the ability of ecosystems to sustain food production, maintain freshwater and forest resources, as well as regulate climate and air quality,” he said.

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Murkomen noted that Mombasa, with a population of 1,208,333 people, currently has a tree cover of 23.75 per cent.

The CS observed that the 10-year tree growing target for Mombasa stands at 7,452,454 trees and during the short rains, the target is 248,415 trees.

“I have also learnt that the county government’s seedlings propagation target is 1,199,537 seedlings. So far, 165, 421 trees have been planted in this county under the Jaza Miti Initiative,” he said adding that the transport sector leaves significant carbon footprints that require the planting of trees as a mitigation measure.

In Kwale, Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) and local Beach Management Units (BMUs) planted 10,000 mangrove seedlings along River Mwachema in Tiwi.

KPA chairman Benjamini Tayari said they will continue working with locals involved in conservation to ensure environmental sustainability.

Tayari promised to ensure that communities living near ports benefit from KPA Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities.

"Our activities have a direct impact on the communities living in proximity to where port operations are taking place, and we have a role to play to ensure that the environment we live in is well taken care of. We have set aside adequate funding to cater for restoration works," he said.

KPA Managing Director Captain William Ruto, pledge to will ensure proper monitoring and surveillance of the restored mangrove sites within the estuary.

"We are giving an undertaking that KPA shall ensure there is adequate monitoring and surveillance to allow what we have planted today to grow to maturity," he said.

Chale Environmental Group, Hamisi Mwakikuzi, thanked KPA for their continued support towards sustainable environmental conservation, particularly marine conservation.