Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development CS Alice Wahome has urged Kenyans to engage in forest conservation and environmental protection, emphasising that these efforts must align with development initiatives.
Speaking at Karumu Primary School in Kandara Constituency during celebrations to mark this year’s Mazingira Day, dubbed ‘Citizen-centric tree growing and environmental stewardship’, Wahome said the government has put in place firm strategies to prevent the destruction of forests in the name of development.
“We must strike a balance between human settlement, development projects, and environmental conservation,” she said.
The CS also noted that the government has put in place robust measures to ensure forests are protected, even as we pursue growth and infrastructural expansion.
The event themed “Turudi Primo tukadonate fruit trees” saw Cabinet and Permanent Secretaries revisit their former primary schools to spearhead tree planting activities.
For instance, at Karumu primary, over 500 avocado trees were planted alongside other fruit trees.
In total, 6,000 trees were planted during the event, while the local community received 20,000 seedlings to plant in their homesteads and farms.
“Fruit trees will not only strengthen food security in the country but also help meet the nutritional needs of our learners,” Wahome said, adding that schools play a vital role in instilling environmental values in the next generation.
The CS emphasised that environmental sustainability is a collective responsibility necessitating ongoing community engagement, hence urging Kenyans to avoid encroaching on forest lands and to support the government’s ongoing 15 billion Trees Programme, which aims to increase forest cover by 2032.
“Areas designated as forests that have been transformed into settlements, schools, hospitals, and markets should be managed carefully to maintain a balance between tree conservation and community needs,” she added.
Moreover, the CS revealed that her ministry, in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and the Kenya Forest Service (KFS), is working on policy frameworks that will guide sustainable land use and forest protection.
Additionally, Policy discussions are being held to create harmony between land development and environmental sustainability, with outcomes to be presented to Parliament for debate and approval.
Wahome urged citizens to nurture and sustain trees planted during drives, emphasising the importance of ensuring their growth ahead of the October short rains.
She remarked that today’s actions would create lasting benefits for future generations.
By Florence Kinyua and Purity Mugo
