The Government is set to plant over 150,000 trees at Kiu Wetland in Makindu, Makueni County, on Monday.
Speaking to the press during an inspection of preparedness in the area, the Kenya Forest Service head Alex Lemarkoko said the event will be graced by President William Ruto.
"All systems are set for the inaugural National Tree Planting Day which the President will inaugurate at Kiu wetland in Makueni tomorrow (Monday)," Lemarkoko said.
The Star Newspaper has established that Kenya Defence Forces has taken over the site where the Head of State will plant a seedling to mark the start of a journey towards growing 15 billion new trees by 2032.
"We shall grow 150,000 seedlings at Kiu Wetland and 100 million across the country," Lemarkoko said while inspecting the state of preparedness at Kiu.
He said so far they have managed to dig more than 80,000 holes in the Kiu Wetland area and they will beat the target before the close of today's business.
He said the program has temporarily employed more than 1000 youths from the Makindu region.
Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse who accompanied Lemarkoko called on all area resident leaders to attend the tree planting exercise.
Mwengi has also asked Makueni residents to plant trees to help address climate change and to enhance their livelihoods.
"As an individual please plant a tree or two in your shamba and it shall change your life in a few years to come," said Mwengi.
On Saturday, Devolution PS Terry Mbaika launched a tree-planting exercise in the Kaiti Constituency.
She said her office is targeting to plant 15,000 trees across Kaiti Constituency.
Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jnr said his government targets to grow 344 million trees by 2032, with 34 million grown each year.
Mutula said that during the October-November-December rains, the county will grow 10 million trees.
Encroachment and degradation of the Kiu/Kiboko water catchment have resulted in the reduction of the levels and recharge rates of the springs causing water shortage for domestic, agricultural, and livestock keeping in the adjacent community, especially those in Makindu Town.
