KWS Participates in Mumoni Hills Tree Planting Exercise

Lt. Gen. (Rtd) Walter Raria, Chairman of KWS Board of Trustees, and Dr. Erustus Kanga, Director General of the Kenya Wildlife Service, accompanied Dr. Alfred Mutua, Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife, Hon. Soipan Tuya, Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, and Forestry, Mr. John Ololtuaa, Principal Secretary of the State Department for Tourism, Mr. Gitonga Mugambi, Principal Secretary of the State Department for Forestry and other senior state officials for a tree planting exercise with community members at Mumoni Hills, Mwingi North in Kitui County.

Speaking during the event, Dr. Mutua emphasized on the importance of the exercise, urging the community of Mumoni to fully support tree growing and ensure all planted trees are natured to maturity. The CS noted that failure is not an option in this venture as failing will see Kenya continue to experience extreme weather conditions.

Dr. Mutua said each cabinet secretary has been assigned specific forests and wetlands to oversee monthly planting activities with the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife tasked with reforestation efforts in Taita Taveta and Kitui counties

Hon. Soipan underscored the importance of environmental restoration in combating climate change and its effects such as the recent devastating floods experienced in Kenya. She noted that 30% of these trees will be fruit bearing, and 20% will be fodder, thus enhancing both environmental and economic benefits.

The government launched an elaborate campaign to plant 15 billion trees in ten years from 2022 in a bid to reach 30% tree cover in Kenya. The drive targets mitigating against the adverse effects of climate change and fight environmental degradation. Planting trees not only helps combat climate change but also supports biodiversity by providing habitats for numerous species.  A total of 13,000 tree seedlings were planted at Mumoni Hills.