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More than three million trees have been earmarked for planting towards greening Kisumu city, in climate change adaptation and mitigation.
The county through the city management has launched an intensive citywide greening programme to be undertaken within three years.
Governor Anyang Nyong’o said the programme is part of the government’s strategy to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change through local climate actions.
He spoke during the launch of citywide greening initiative at Mama Grace Onyango Social hall on Wednesday.
The programme also targets to increase the tree cover in the county.
Based on the 2021 national forest resource assessment report, forest cover in Kisumu stands at 10,254.1 acres (1.55 per cent).
Nyong’o urged stakeholders and development partners to support the initiative for prosperity and achievement of the sustainable development goals and new urban agenda.
“The programme is part of my manifesto, which includes improving service delivery through enhanced infrastructure initiatives; environmental hygiene, conservation and stewardship among others,” he said.
With the growing populations and rapid urbanisation rate, cities in Africa are on the frontline of exposure to dangerous levels of climate change issues that may impact negatively on the livelihood and the economy.
The population for African cities will grow by 950 million people by 2050 with Kisumu city included.
Nyong’o said cities need to launch their pathway to sustainable urban development and be ‘city smart’ to reduce the impact of climate change and other environmental risks.
Nyong’o said they will embrace public private partnership for the success of the greening initiative.
The county will team up with former Alego-Usonga MP Sammy Weya to buy 10 million trees from him.
Kisumu city acting manager Michael Abala Wanga advocates for revolutionised plans to accommodate the growing population and higher demand for services in a manner that achieves economic, social and environmental gains simultaneously.
“We want Kisumu to be a leading city in Kenya and the entire Great Lakes region in providing innovative services that are responsive to customers’ expectations,” he said.
Wanga said the city is committed on improving service delivery through enhanced infrastructural initiatives in the five years.
The component of improving service delivery through enhanced infrastructural initiatives include neighbourhood frontage beautification and increased forest cover.
Also, the smart city initiative, which incorporates Wi-Fi and CCTVs in strategic areas and control of traffic lights for easy movement in the city.
To realise the threshold of planting three million trees under the greening citywide initiative, the city will spearhead tree planting on the 10th day of every month.
The governor, residents, stakeholders and development partners will participate and support the initiative.
Kisumu speaker Elisha Oraro called for the sustainability of tree planting in the county.
He challenged the Kisumu government to extend the project into the villages by using administrators and council.