Eldama Ravine, Kenya – Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir has affirmed Kenya’s progress towards becoming a leading green energy country. This statement was made during the national tree planting exercise in Chemususu Forest, located in Eldama Ravine, Baringo County.
According to Kenya News Agency, Kenya ranks sixth globally in geothermal development and has achieved a remarkable 93 percent reliance on green energy sources. He emphasized the role of alternative energy sources such as solar and wind power in the country’s transition to Electric Motor Vehicles and reducing dependence on fossil fuels.
The Cabinet Secretary expressed gratitude to the President for initiating a day dedicated to tree planting, which contributes to the national goal of achieving 15 billion trees and 30 percent forest cover by 2032. He elaborated on the landscape and ecosystem restoration programme, aimed at nurturing 1.5 billion trees, restoring 10.6 million acres of degraded landscapes, and significantly increasing forest cover.
Chirchir highlighted the broader benefits of this target, including improved conservation of biodiversity, sustainable livelihoods, enhanced climate resilience, and socio-economic development. In the current tree planting exercise, the target is to plant 100 million trees, scaling up to 500 million by the end of the short rain period.
Furthermore, the Cabinet Secretary underlined the significance of forests in hydroelectric generation, which accounts for 30 percent of Kenya’s power production. He mentioned ongoing efforts to revise the carbon credit act to enable communities to earn from forest conservation.
Governor Benjamin Cheboi of Baringo County emphasized the role of tree planting in reducing conflicts over water resources and addressing environmental issues like siltation in Lake Baringo. He advocated for the distribution of fruit seedlings to enhance food security and provide economic benefits to farmers.
Musa Sirma, the Member of Parliament for Eldama Ravine, spoke about legislative efforts to allocate 5 percent of the National Government Constituency Development Fund for environmental conservation. This initiative aims to correct previous misallocations of funds and encourages youths to engage in tree nursery projects to benefit from the demand for 15 billion tree seedlings.
The tree planting event saw the addition of 5,000 tree seedlings in Chemususu Forest, bringing the total to 16,000 seedlings, including 11,000 planted the previous day.