The national government tree planting programme in Kisumu County has received a major boost following the rollout of a fruit tree planting initiative by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which has donated 20,000 fruit tree seedlings to bolster the project.
Kisumu is the first stop in the Church’s nationwide campaign to distribute 120,000 fruit tree seedlings in an initiative aimed at promoting food security, economic empowerment, and environmental conservation.
Speaking during the launch, the church representative, George Munene, said the initiative is in line with national development goals and the government’s call for climate action.
“This is a national-scale fruit tree planting project, and Kisumu is our first destination. Fruit trees are essential not only for addressing food needs but also for creating economic opportunities and restoring our environment,” Munene said.
He added that the Church will expand the programme to other counties starting next month and expressed gratitude to the county leadership for supporting the kickoff event.
Kisumu County Commissioner Benson Leparmorijo welcomed the donation, describing it as a sign of goodwill from the Church.
He noted that one of the key challenges to meeting both national and county tree planting targets has been the lack of seedlings and adequate land for nursery development.
“I want to thank the Church for this generous donation. The 20,000 seedlings have already been distributed to my office, the Kenya Forest Service, the National Youth Service, Kenya Prisons, the County Government of Kisumu, the Ecumenical Centre for Justice, Interfaith Council, and other departments,” said Leparmorijo.
He emphasized the need not just to plant but to nurture the seedlings to maturity: “In the past, we planted and forgot. This time around, let’s plant and grow.”
The county commissioner also linked the initiative to broader efforts to mitigate the impact of climate change in the region, especially floods which have displaced residents in several sub-counties, including Nyando, Kadibo, and Nyakach.
“This year we’ve had less displacement, but some people remain in camps like Nduru, Ogenya, and Ombaka. Planting trees, especially fruit trees, will help us reduce such vulnerabilities in the future,” he said.
Kenya Forest Service (KFS) Kisumu County Conservator Vitalis Osodo echoed the sentiments, noting that Kisumu’s seedling production is currently too low to meet the targets set under the national 15 billion tree programme.
“We are supposed to raise at least 9.1 million seedlings annually, but we don’t have the capacity. That’s why this kind of support from partners like the Church is so critical. It boosts our production and helps us get closer to our targets,” he said.
Osodo said KFS will work with other agencies to ensure the donated seedlings are well planted and monitored.
Kisumu County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Agriculture, Kenneth Onyango, said the initiative fits well with the county’s ongoing strategy to promote fruit farming.
“This synchronizes perfectly with our vision. Just two weeks ago, we received 5,000 seedlings from the national government. With this new donation, we’re more determined to promote fruit tree growing, both for nutrition and income generation,” Onyango said.
He assured the Church that the county would mobilize community groups, schools, and extension officers to ensure the trees are planted in suitable locations and are well cared for.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has previously supported health, education, and clean water projects in Kenya.
With this new initiative, the Church is expanding its footprint in the fight against climate change and food insecurity.
By Ogada Kenedy and Billgates Odwar
