The military will dedicate every fourth Wednesday of the month to planting trees, Defence CS Aden Duale has said.
In doing so, the Ministry of Defence will not only be reaffirming its commitment to national security but also to environmental conservation and sustainable development.
“This is part of the broader National Landscape and Ecosystem Restoration Program, aligns with President William Ruto's target of planting 15 billion trees by the year 2032,” Duale said.
He made the remarks when he hosted Environment CS Soipan Tuya at the Embakasi Garrison, where they led troops in planting more than 30,000 trees.
Tuya's presence at the garrison underscored the vital intersection between environmental health and national security, he said.
Duale termed the move a significant stride towards environmental sustainability and national resilience.
The Kenya Defence Forces play a critical role in national development initiatives, beyond their conventional duties, he added.
“And the need to combat adverse effects of Climate Change that stands as threat to National and Regional Security,” he said.
Tuya has said tree planting is an effective antidote to the worsening climate crisis. She termed the issue of climate change as the greatest existential threat currently facing humanity.
"Trees are our greatest allies in the fight against the climate crisis which is the greatest existential threat of our time," the CS said.
The event was mirrored in KDF installations across the country, from the coastal bases in Mombasa to the highland posts in Nanyuki.
Soldiers and officers from all KDF units participated in planting thousands of trees and engaging in educational sessions about the importance of environmental stewardship, especially in Isiolo and Nakuru counties which are areas assigned to the Ministry of Defence.
