Dr. Deborah Barasa, environmental, climate change and forest cabinet secretary, asked all Kenyans to take on personal responsibility in restoring the lower landscapes and strengthening climate effectiveness through tree growth.
While a mass construction work in the Maragoli Forest in the district of VIHIGA, where 10,116 tree seeds were grown, the CS emphasized that the 15-billion cultivation program led by President William Ruto is not just an initiative of the national government, but also a common responsibility. She emphasized that her success depends on the cooperation between national and district governments, local leaders, municipalities and development partners.
“This initiative requires the commitment of all sectors to achieve an environmental manager and at the same time secure economic opportunities for us and future generations. The trees planted here today are a strong statement of our collective will to restore our ecosystems,” she said.
The tree cultivation exercise in VIHIGA is part of the accelerated national campaign, which is aimed at regeneration of ecosystems, which is of crucial importance for biological diversity, water security and the resilience of the community. According to the CS, your ministry has prioritized the fence and restoration of gazettle forests to contain interventions and deterioration.
In Vihiga County alone, 6.1 million seedlings have already been planted, which surpasses the annual goal of the district of 2.3 million trees.
Dr. Barasa praised the district governments of VIHIGA and KAKAMEGA for their support and found the contribution from Vihiga to 10 million Kes and Kakamega's donation of materials of 25 million Kes for fence activities. She also asked the counties to use funds from the FLOCA program (financing locally managed air conditioning systems) to expand the recovery and resilience projects.
The CS also dealt with concerns that were expressed by communities for land ownership disputes in Maragoli Hills, Shiru and Shavinga. She assured the residents that the government worked with local guides in order to find long -term solutions, but emphasized that interventions in important restoration zones have to stop protecting critical ecosystems.
In terms of economic activities, Dr. Barasa, that the handcrafted gold mining remains a source of livelihood in Vihiga and Kakamega.
Environmental secretary Dr. Selly Kimosop warned of the continued use of mercury when extraction, citing health and environmental risks. She said the PlanetGold Kenya project promoted mercury-free mining methods to protect both humans and ecosystems.
The CS continued to praise institutions, community groups and individual citizens for their contributions to the 15 -billion -in -law and demand an even greater participation.
“Let us be the administrator of our environment and leave a heir behind sustainability for the coming generations. Together we can promote a culture of preservation that preserves our natural resources and enables our communities,” she said.
Dr. Richard Boiyo, Chief Officer for the Environment, Energy, Natural Resources and Climate Change in the Vihiga district, praised the efforts of the Ministry, 34 kilometers of Kibiri Forest, and built up on the Kakamega forest center, which was introduced two years ago, in which 15 kilometers were completed. He assured the CS of continuing support from the district government in the further development of the restoration agenda and the delivery of the presidential directive of 15 billion Billionstreesby2032.
The event underlined the government's commitment to protect forests, the restoration of ecosystems and the strengthening of the community as part of the wider agenda of the climate action in Kenya.
Other speakers of the event included the #15 billionthsstrees -secretariat coordinator Fraususan Boit; Frauflorence Mwachoki, Kenya Forest Service (KFS); CFC Vihiga County, Mr. Frederick Shikuku and District Commissioner Florence Sitawa.