Murang'a County in Kenya has launched a tree-growing initiative, mobilizing 6,700 people to plant 200,000 tree seedlings within one hour on October 10, during Mazingira Day. The exercise is part of a national campaign to expand tree cover and restore degraded ecosystems. The county has set aside 100 hectares for the tree-growing exercise at Del Monte and Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO) land.
The tree-growing challenge is targeting six million seedlings across the country, with Murang'a among the participating counties. County Commissioner Hassan Bule expressed confidence that the county would meet its target, citing sufficient land, seedlings, and manpower. He emphasized that the week-long programme would bring together government agencies, universities, schools, private companies, communities, and other stakeholders to improve the environment and promote responsible waste management.
The activities lined up during Mazingira Week include cleaning St Mary's Primary School, a town clean-up in Sabasaba, and greening sections of the highway linking Kenol, Makuyu, and Sabasaba. The national tree-growing exercise will be led by President William Ruto in Kitale, Trans Nzoia County. Security agencies, including the Kenya Defence Forces and National Police Service, as well as other government departments, will join the exercise alongside the private sector and local communities.
Murang'a County currently has a tree cover of 27.8 per cent, equivalent to about 70,237.19 hectares, while forest cover stands at 16.68 per cent, covering approximately 42,135.75 hectares. The tree-growing exercise is expected to further increase the country's tree cover and contribute to efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change. Mazingira Week, which runs from October 5 to October 10, is expected to see more than 17.24 million trees planted across the country.
The Presidential Green Challenge, scheduled for October 10, is targeting six million trees to be planted simultaneously within one hour across selected counties. The initiative is part of the government's broader efforts to increase Kenya's tree cover and restore degraded ecosystems through increased tree growing and environmental conservation. Murang'a University of Technology Vice Chancellor Prof Dickson Nyariki said the institution would mobilize its staff and students to support the tree-growing campaign and other activities lined up during the week.
Nyariki observed that universities had an important role to play in creating environmental awareness and ensuring conservation initiatives translated into practical action within communities. He explained that the university would continue with tree-growing initiatives even after Mazingira Week, noting that environmental protection required sustained efforts to address the effects of climate change. The national tree-growing campaign is part of the government's wider programme to increase Kenya's tree cover and restore degraded ecosystems, with a target of growing 15 billion trees by 2032.
The tree-growing exercise in Murang'a County will take place on 80 hectares at Del Monte and 17 hectares at KALRO's research centre in Gatanga, with different tree species selected according to the suitability of the sites. County Commissioner Hassan Bule called on residents to participate in the environmental activities, stressing that tree growing should be viewed as a long-term responsibility rather than an event restricted to Mazingira Day.
Key points
- Murang'a County aims to plant 200,000 tree seedlings within one hour on October 10.
- The tree-growing exercise is part of a national campaign to expand tree cover and restore degraded ecosystems.
- The county currently has a tree cover of 27.8 per cent, equivalent to about 70,237.19 hectares.
