Preparations ahead of Monday’s national tree planting exercise are complete, the government has said as it called on Kenyans to actively participate in the process.
President William Ruto is set to lead the exercise at Kiu Wetland in Makindu, Makueni.
The government targets to grow 150 million trees across the country during the day.
In a joint statement to newsrooms Sunday, Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo and his Forestry counterpart Githonga Mugambi said besides the scheduled activities in particular areas at the counties they are also putting focus on the location level.
“For the success of this crucial exercise and to capitalize on this opportunity up to the grassroots, the government has instructed chiefs in all 47 counties to take the lead in the tree planting efforts,” the statement reads.
Chiefs are set to take charge of coordinating the distribution of seedlings and mobilizing residents in their areas.
“This way, we will be able to maximize this day to grow as many trees as possible as we work towards attaining our ambitious goal of planting 15 billion trees by 2032,” they said.
Kenyans have been asked to obtain the tree seedlings at the chief’s offices.
The tree-growing activities that will happen in each of the counties will be championed by Cabinet Secretaries, hosted by respective governors and supported by their PSs, county commissioners and other senior state officials.
"National Government Administrative Officers will be supporting the Ministry of Environment in coordinating the exercise which is part of the Kenya Landscape and Ecosystem Restoration program towards growing 15 billion trees," Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya said.
"County Commissioners have already convened technical planting teams in their respective counties comprising of representatives from the Kenya Forest Service, National Environment Management Authority among other government and non-governmental stakeholders,” she added.