President William Ruto’s reforestation challenge to Kenyans to plant 15 billion trees by the year 2032 would be led by First Lady Rachel Ruto, according to her pledge.
Speaking on Thursday at the beginning of the reforestation of the Kakamega tropical forest, Mrs. Ruto said she intended to employ the adopt-a-forest strategy, which involves both state and non-state players, to hasten the implementation of reforestation across the nation.
In accordance with the “adopt-a-forest” approach, Mrs. Ruto agreed to reforesting 200 hectares (approximately 500 acres) of the Kakamega forest.
In a partnership with both state and non-state actors, Kenya Forestry Services has adopted forest areas and blocks in public forests and planted tree seedlings there.
The First Lady noted that it was critical to implement sustainable solutions, including greening the nation in order to attain the 30 percent of trees by the year 2032, and that climate change is affecting the country’s roadmap toward socioeconomic transformation.
“Let’s work together by heeding President Ruto’s call for every Kenyan to plant 300 trees by the year 2032,” she added.
The First Lady also stated that she will establish an essay competition for students and pupils on environmental conservation in collaboration with the Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI) and the Ministry of Education as a step toward fostering the culture of tree planting in youth.
“The launch of the essay competition will take place at State House Nairobi where we shall plant trees with children of families residing there while celebrating my birthday,” she said.
According to the First Lady, this will inspire the next generation to support tree planting and the country’s greening.
She urged populations that were close to forests, particularly women and young people, to cultivate tree seedlings and sell them to the government as a means of enhancing their economic well-being.
According to Mrs. Ruto, the government is searching for measures to safeguard Kenyans from the high cost of Liquefied Petroleum Products (LPG) gases. She urged women to utilize green energy, such as the use of briquettes, as a way to protect the environment.
Speaking at the event, Soipan Tuya, Cabinet Secretary for Conservation and Forestry, said that although 490 hectares of the Kakamega forest are degraded, 98.5 hectares have already been replanted as part of the adopt-a-forest initiative.
She however noted that Kakamega forest has another 391.5 hectares of the forest that has been degraded and called on other partners to join her ministry in the venture of reforestation across the country.
“The programme lasts between 3-5 years and then the forests revert to KFS,” she added.
The CS stated that in order to reach the envisioned goal of cultivating 15 billion trees by 2032, Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI) has boosted its seed supplies and established more centers throughout the nation.
“We are also growing different types of species for arid and semi-arid areas and different ecological areas of the country,” she added.