Kabuyefwe Primary School in Trans Nzoia County will host this year’s National Environment Day celebrations. As the event approaches, the public is encouraged not only to take part in the celebrations but also to plant trees under the theme “Let’s go back to our roots, donate fruit trees, and live in a clean environment.”
Environment Cabinet Secretary Dr. Deborah Barasa, along with other senior government officials, will mobilize the general public to plant trees in schools all over the country. They plan to raise the number of trees to be planted in each school to about 2,000, and the children will be given extra seedlings to plant at their homes.
The Kenya Forest Service (KFS) will supply most of the seedlings, while the Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI) will provide the rest. Youths trained in the National Youth Service (NYS) will sell those seedlings that have to be bought at the rate of Ksh 150 each.
Just before the event, the Principal Secretary in the State Department for Forestry, speaking with the media, Neimanis expressed confidence that the government would hit its target of 15 billion trees by 2032. He added that fruit trees would alone explain conservation of nature while providing households with nutritious food.
“We encourage Kenyans to take good care of the trees they plant; only then can we have a green country that will secure the people’s livelihoods,” he said.
The government, besides tree planting, is also implementing different measures to promote forestry and bamboo farming. These measures are expected to increase the demand for tree-based products, create new job opportunities, and attract more sustainable industries.
The event takes place just as Kenya is stepping up its efforts to tackle climate change, it is working towards restoring the damage that has been done to its landscapes, and promoting the practice of sustainable living.
