2,000 trees planted in schools on Mazingira Day in Kamukunji

Kamukunji sub-county on Friday joined the rest of the country in marking Mazingira Day through tree planting exercises in local schools, following a directive from the Ministry of Education issued on Thursday.

At Our Lady of Mercy Primary School in Shauri Moyo, where Trade Principal Secretary Regina Akoth Ombam was scheduled to participate, at least 1,000 tree seedlings were planted.

Senior Deputy Secretary Omar Beja represented the PS during the exercise, which also involved participants from the ministry, Equity Bank staff, and beneficiaries of the sub-county’s climate works programme (formerly Kazi Mtaani).

Omar noted that the trees planted at the school add to the thousands planted in Embu and Subukia as part of the government’s target to plant 15 billion trees by 2032.

"We have a target as a Ministry as part of the billion trees programme. We have been allocated Irangi forest and another forest in Subukia to grow trees. So far, we have grown 30,000 trees in both," he said.

He urged school management, teachers, and pupils to ensure the trees mature and to extend the tree-growing drive to their homes and communities.

"If the trees we have planted don't grow, we'll have wasted time and money. Everyone here, teachers and pupils must do their part to help us achieve that 15 billion target," he said, explaining the role of trees in the protection of the ozone layer.

The Deputy Secretary encouraged the pupils to work hard and follow the example of the PS, who, though absent, pledged to return and check on the exercise’s progress.

"Be inspired that u can also go far from here, Madam Ombam was born here, started here and went up to the University of Nairobi. Work hard and be anything you want; it is possible," he told the pupils.

Sub-County Director of Education Luuley Abdullahi emphasised that this was a tree-growing exercise, not just planting, assigning pupils responsibility for tree care.

"I'll appreciate each one of you if you all grow a tree. At Uhuru Secondary, we planted 500 trees today. I'm sure there are almost 1,000 trees here in this school today, and in the sub-county, so far we have 2,000 trees that we have planted today," she said.

Sub-county forester Kenneth Aingwa echoed the call for students to nurture, not just plant, the trees.

"By 2032, 15 billion trees must have been planted to increase our forest cover, and this Sub County must lead from the front," he urged.

Chief Environment Officer Vivian Moraa highlighted the responsibility to keep Kamukunji clean and green for future generations, "It's our responsibility to make Kamukunji clean and green so that in the near future they can be of help to future generations."

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• 000 trees planted in schools on Mazingira Day in Kamukunji

Across Kenya, state officials and citizens have marked Mazingira Day by planting trees in their former schools, following the State Department of Forestry’s directive last week.

This year’s theme, 'Citizen-Centric Tree Growing and Environmental Stewardship', aligns with the government’s ambitious 15 Billion Tree Growing Programme launched by President William Ruto in December 2022.

According to the State Department, nearly one billion trees have already been planted nationwide, signalling strong progress toward the government’s goal of 30 per cent tree cover.

The campaign prioritises fruit tree planting in primary schools, seen as the foundation of the nation and the best way to instil environmental responsibility in young minds.

The national event was held in Trans-Nzoia County, where over 10,000 trees were expected to be planted by day’s end.

Similar exercises were rolled out nationwide under the leadership of National Government Administration Officers (NGAO), governors, state officials, alumni associations, and local communities.