Kenya Forest Service (KFS) has warned members of the public against illegal activities that will affect the growth of trees that were recently planted in the forests.
KFS boss Alex Lemarkoko said that those who will be found taking livestock into forests, lit fires, and other illegal forest activities will face the full force of the law.
He made the remarks during the launch of a tree planting exercise by the SMACH foundation at Kapchumbe block of Siongiroi forest in the Sotik constituency of Bomet county on Tuesday, where they planted 1,000 trees.
In attendance were President William Ruto’s daughter Charlene Ruto, Susan Boit, a coordinator of the $15 billion National Tree Growing Programme Secretariat, Bomet County Commissioner Dr Ahmed Omar, and former Bomet Women Representative Cecilia Ngetich.
“We are going to be hard on people taking advantage of the forests by taking their livestock to them and those engaging in prohibited activities. We cannot sit and watch people derailing the government agenda of improving forest cover,” Lemarkoko said.
He added that to achieve the presidential target of 15 billion trees in the next ten years, there is a need for seriousness among Kenyans, and they should not depend alone on the government to spearhead the campaign alone.
“This campaign is a collective campaign, and every Kenyan should support the government so that we can attain the target,” he remarked.
The KFS boss revealed that they are going to plant 5 million trees in the Chepalangu Forest and call the locals to support the initiative.
Lemarkoko called on well-wishers, foundations, and partners to emulate the SMACHS foundation’s move and adopt land in the forests by planting trees and protecting them.
Charlene, who is also the patron of the SMACHS Foundation, said they are planning to plant 10 million trees across the country to assist the giving in achieving the 15 billion tree target.
“Our future depends on these trees because tree planting is one of the simplest and most effective ways to tackle climate change,” said Charlene.
She noted as the foundation they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with KFS to adopt 2.4 hectares of forest to plant trees in a bid to improve the forest cover.
“We will continue with these exercises by engaging in neighbouring schools and communities to plant trees because you can plant trees, but what is important is to protect them and ensure they grow without any challenges,” she said.
Charlene said in partnership with other partners they will establish tree nurseries in schools and expect the learners and youths to take up the initiatives.
“We will incorporate the students and the youths in this process to ensure the survival of these trees planted to replenish the country’s forests and increase biodiversity,” said Charlene.
On her part, Boit urged Kenyans to support the tree planting campaign, saying that they would turn around the economy of the people who have practised it for commercial and those engaging in agroforestry. She called on Kenyans to take advantage of Jaza Miti initiative, a presidential directive where Safaricom, in partnership with the Environment Ministry, have come up with a 15 billion tree-planting initiative.
“The JazaMiti App is a mobile app that facilitates and enhances tree planting programmes by allowing users to select trees species for planting based on their location, documenting, tracking, and monitoring the growth of documented trees over time,” said the coordinator.