Residents of Suswa in Narok County joined government officials and local leaders in a tree planting exercise aimed at restoring degraded landscapes and strengthening environmental conservation efforts. The exercise, which brought together public officers from the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government and the State Department for Energy was presided over by the Secretary of Administration Mr, Allan Machari, who delivered a speech on behalf of the Principal Secretary Mr, Alex Macharia.
In his address, Mr. Macharia emphasized the government’s commitment to environmental restoration through tree planting and growing initiatives. Mr Macharia noted that the government is actively encouraging citizens to take part in restoring ecosystems under a national programme that seeks to rehabilitate degraded landscapes.
“Our government has been actively encouraging everyone to support Kenya’s landscape and ecosystem restoration programme,” he said. “This initiative aims to grow and nurture 15 billion trees to rehabilitate and conserve over 10.6 million hectares of degraded landscapes.” The Principal Secretary observed that the drive to grow trees are part of a broader national goal to increase Kenya’s forest cover to 30 percent by the year 2032.
The Principal Secretary underscored the critical role of forests and water catchment areas in sustaining livelihoods and supporting energy production. He explained that forests, wetlands, and water towers act as natural regulators that capture and filter water, which is essential for replenishing rivers and reservoirs used in hydroelectric power generation.
“Planting trees and protecting existing vegetation helps minimize soil erosion,” he said. “When erosion occurs, sediments build up in reservoirs, reducing their capacity and efficiency for water storage and power generation.” Mr. Macharia pointed out that restoring degraded water catchment areas is also key to preventing disasters such as flooding, while enhancing renewable energy production.
He cited ongoing efforts by the government, noting that thousands of hectares of degraded catchment areas across the country have already been rehabilitated, including sections of the Mau ecosystem in Narok County. As part of activities to commemorate the day, over 15,000 seedlings were distributed to members of the local community for planting on their farms.
This, he said, is part of a shift towards farm forestry to meet the national sustainable energy needs. “Today, we are not just holding a ceremony to distribute tree seedlings. We must also commit to nurturing and growing them into mature trees,” he urged. The initiative also seeks to reduce reliance on natural forests for firewood by encouraging farmers to grow their own woodlots.
According to Mr. Macharia, this approach will help ease pressure on forests while providing households with a reliable source of energy. He also emphasized the importance of partnerships in achieving these goals, noting that the government will continue collaborating with state agencies, partners, and local communities to rehabilitate degraded forest areas.
“We will continue collaborating with state corporations, partners, and local communities to restore degraded forest areas in Narok County and beyond,” he said. In addition, the State Department for Energy is promoting clean cooking solutions through initiatives such as the Jamhuri Energy Centre in Nairobi, aimed at increasing access to clean and affordable energy.
The Suswa tree planting exercise stands as a testament to the growing momentum behind Kenya’s environmental restoration agenda, driven by collaboration between government and communities at the grassroots level.