Siaya County Challenged to Improve Low Forest Cover

Siaya, Kenya – Siaya County, recognized as having one of the lowest forest covers in Kenya, is being encouraged to enhance its tree planting efforts. Charles Owino, Chairman of the Kenya Institute of Mass Communication (KIMC) Board, representing the Cabinet Secretary for Public Service Moses Kuria, stated that Siaya’s forest cover stands at 0.23%, only slightly better than counties like Wajir, Mandera, and Marsabit. During a tree planting exercise at Siaya Institute of Technology, Owino stressed the need for local residents to use the area’s numerous hills for tree planting.

According to Kenya News Agency, The government’s goal of planting 15 billion trees by 2032 includes Siaya’s target of 15 million trees. Siaya County Commissioner Julius Otieno announced plans to plant 36,000 trees, with coordination from the county government. Governor James Orengo, through a statement read by Prof. Jacqueline Oduol, highlighted the county’s initiatives to increase forest cover, citing reliance on firewood and charcoal as a major cause of deforestation. Orengo noted that numerous tree planting initiatives have already begun, showing promising results.