Residents of Murang’a County have been urged to take advantage of ongoing short rains to plant and nurture trees.
Speaking during a tree planting exercise for the short rains season at Kimakia forest which is part of Aberdares, Acting Murang’a County Commissioner Mr. Charles Muriithi emphasized the government’s commitment to environmental conservation and achieving Kenya’s national goal of planting 15 billion trees by 2032.
He noted that Murang’a has a target of planting 134 million trees by 2032 asking residents to prioritize planting trees in their farms.
“During this short rainy season, residents should ensure they plant trees in their farms or join groups which are planting trees in national government forests. This will support our commitment of achieving the county target,” he added.
During the exercise, participants planted 40,000 indigenous and exotic trees, marking a significant step toward achieving the county’s ambitious tree planting target.
The campaign brought together a wide range of stakeholders, including the National Government Administrative Officers (NGAO), the County Security Team, Murang’a Water and Sanitation Company (MUWASCO), the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), Meteorological department and various learning institutions from across the county.
Murang’a County Conservator Eunice Njoroge encouraged learning institutions and organizations to set days and plant trees emphasizing the need of nurturing planted seedlings.
She noted that the short rainy season provides ideal conditions for the establishment of both indigenous and fast-growing species.
“We are calling upon all stakeholders to use the short rains wisely. This is the best time to plant resilient species such as Grevillea, Croton, Markhamia, Cypress, African Olive, and Podocarpus (Podo) which thrive well during this period,” she said.
Njoroge further appealed to communities to prioritize indigenous tree species that support water catchments, enhance biodiversity, and prevent soil erosion particularly in areas surrounding the Aberdare ecosystem, which is a major water tower feeding key rivers such as Mathioya, Maragua, and Chania.
“The exercise is part of a nationwide initiative spearheaded by the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, and Forestry, aimed at restoring degraded forests and combating the effects of climate change,” he remarked.
Njoroge added that the county has been actively involved in the restoration of the Aberdare ecosystem and protection of water catchment areas through community participation, establishment of tree nurseries, and awareness campaigns targeting youth and schools.
“As the rains continue, we are encouraging residents to plant at least five trees per household, a move we hope will make Murang’a one of the leading counties in contributing to Kenya’s goal of achieving 30 percent forest cover by 2032,” added the conservator.
She revealed Murang’a County currently has a tree cover of 27.8 percent (70,237.19 hectares) and a forest cover of 16.68 percent (42,135.75 hectares).
“While deforestation is not rampant in the county, KFS has prioritized enrichment planting, which involves introducing trees into existing forests to enhance biodiversity without disrupting natural habitat,” she stated.
By Bernard Munyao and Catherine Kamunyo
