The Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary is in discussions with various partners to adopt 200 hectares of the Maragoli Hills forest in Vihiga county for restoration and reforestation.
Prime CS Musalia Mudavadi said this aims to support the government’s initiative of achieving 30 per cent forest cover in the country by 2032.
He said the move will contribute towards the global fight against climate change, where Kenya is taking a lead among other countries globally.
“As a country, we are focused on our target of greening Kenya by planting 15 billion trees by 2030, as directed by President William Ruto and we need all hands on deck to achieve this target,” he said.
In a speech read on his behalf by the Principal Administrative Secretary in his office, Juliana Yiapan, Mudavadi told stakeholders at a tree growing exercise in Maragoli Hills forest that Kenyans must believe promoting tree planting is doable to ward off encroachment of climate change.
He said community efforts in tree cover growing and forest cover afforestation are highly appreciated and extremely desirable.
“There is no one who is blessed by destroying the environment and nature. Protecting the environment should be the driving force for all of us moving into the future,” Mudavadi said.
The Thursday activity saw participants led by the Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary, the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), National Environment Management Authority, students, locals and partners grow an estimated 12,000 trees in the second phase of the tree growing exercise by the OPCS at Maragoli Hills forest.
Mudavadi said his office will continue to court such partnerships as the one they have with KDF to ensure the country is green.
The Vice Chief of Defence Forces, Lt General John Omenda, Vihiga Deputy Governor Wilberforce Kitiezo, Ag Vihiga County Commissioner, Florence Sitawa and Fred Otsieno, the County Forest Officer Vihiga county, among other dignitaries were present.
The Principal Administrative Secretary on her part lauded Ruto’s leadership towards championing for the target of 15 billion trees by 2030.
“Climate change is real and Kenyans need to rally behind our leaders as we look for solutions together in tackling climate change phenomenon,” Yiapan said.
“We are also encouraging schools and communities. When you teach the students on environmental conservation and tree growing also make them learn the practical aspect by encouraging them to grow trees and take care of them,” she said.
The Prime CS started the Maragoli Hills re-afforestation initiative in October 2023, with a launch of a marathon run meant to support fund raising towards restore 461 hectares of forest cover that is said to have been destroyed through human activity.
Mudavadi has also previously led tree planting initiatives in Mt Elgon, Kakamega Forest, and Egerton University.