CSs to monitor growth of trees in designated sites, CS Tuya speaks on success of holiday

Environment Climate Change and Forestry Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya says the Friday tree planting holiday was more successful than the first one last year.

Speaking on Citizen TV’s Friday night show, CS Tuya recounted the activities of the day saying that all the Cabinet Secretaries had been designated specific zones to plant and nurture the trees in line with President William Ruto’s 15 billion trees target after 10 years.

CS Tuya divulged that, unlike the first tree planting holiday, from today going forward, the CSs would now be required to oversee the exercise from planting until maturity by making a visit to the site at least once a month to see the progress of the trees.

According to Tuya, the new approach which is meant to ensure tree planting is done the right way will give accountability with a long-term goal of protecting the environment and protecting the nation from the current flood disaster witnessed across the country.

She says the activity has been designated to the entire Cabinet including the President and his deputy.

“This second holiday was a huge improvement from the last time…We have been planting trees year in and year out, and if we were planting trees the right way, in terms of planting and nurturing trees to maturity, we would have not seen the magnitude of crisis around flooding that we have seen today and we would have very little spaces to plant trees,” Tuya said.

“By the directive of the Cabinet, all cabinet secretaries have been directed to take a frontline approach and that is what we did. Today we had all the CSs led by the President and his deputy and all government administrative officers out in every county. It is not one of, by instruction of cabinet, each CS has a designated site (where they went today) and we are going to have each one of us set a day of a month to go back to our sites, make sure the trees are growing and being nurtured to maturity.”

The CS added: “On Monday we already have a calendar of the CSs going out starting with the AG Muturi, CS Machogu on Tuesday, CS Mvurya on Wednesday, CS Mutua on Thursday and Friday CS Chirchir and it is going to be a continuous exercise.”

CS Tuya went on to express confidence in the 15 billion trees target saying it was achievable as long as Kenyans unite together and the government emphasises the need and seriousness of tree-planting.

“15 billion trees is entirely realistic and I am very optimistic we can do this. The strategy around growing 15 billion trees is very well thought out. The Kenya Kwanza administration has been very intentional in prioritizing matters of climate change and climate action,” she stated.

“The reason we are doing this is to have Kenyans see the seriousness of tree growing but also to stand in solidarity with over 200 Kenyans who lost their lives.”

On Friday President Ruto led the country in a tree-planting exercise in Murang'a County where he said the exercise will continue for the next six months.