Duale says Kenyans have planted 481 million trees since January

Environment Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale on Thursday said that since January 2024, Kenyans have planted 481 million trees.

Speaking at the Nairobi Arboretum, Duale commended the public for participating in the government's ambitious plan to plant 15 billion trees by 2032.

"We must make a deliberate effort as Kenyans to clean our rivers, get involved in solid waste management, and plant at least 1.5 billion trees in a year," he said.

"We have already planted and grown 481 million trees. This is the government, citizens and private sector," Duale added.

This initiative aims to lower greenhouse gas emissions, which have lasting effects on the environment and future generations.

The CS also addressed the ongoing issues with the Nairobi River, reaffirming the government's goal to clean it up within the next 18 months.

Call to action

This initiative follows President Ruto's call to action for all Kenyans to plant at least 100 trees each as part of the fight against climate change.

During a speech in Kirinyaga County on October 15, 2022, Ruto highlighted the severity of the climate crisis.

"As a country, we must realise that as a member of the global community, we have a challenge of climate right here with us. We have farming, we have the most severe drought in 40 years confirming that we are already suffering the effects of climate change," he said.

Environment CS Aden Duale planting a tree at the Nairobi Arboretum on October 10, 2024. (Photo: Ministry of Environment)

The head of state urged every Kenyan to plant trees in their homes, farms, or any available space, emphasising that this effort is crucial for restoring the environment and ensuring future prosperity.

Last year, President Ruto launched an application dubbed JazaMiti to be used by Kenyans or institutions to document their tree-planting activities.

According to the head of state, the app would be used by the government to monitor the growth of the trees in the journey to reach the 15 billion trees target by 2032.

Documentation of tree planting activities

JazaMiti provides one an opportunity to learn how to accurately document and monitor one’s planting activities for effective data tracking and analysis.

By using the app, one can record the location, species, number of trees planted, and planting date.

The app also allows one to enhance their documentation with photos and automated location information collection for better tracking and validation.