Kisii County Sees 6,500 Trees Planted in Local Schools as Part of National Tree Growing Initiative

KISII, Kenya — In a collaborative effort to boost tree cover and combat climate change, the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy has teamed up with the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) and Kisii National Polytechnic to plant 6,500 trees across three primary schools in Kitutu Central Sub County, Kisii County. The tree planting initiative took place during the rainy season, distributing the saplings at Kanunda Primary School (2,500 trees), Sakawa Primary School (3,000 trees), and Kiamwasi Primary School (1,000 trees).

According to Kenya News Agency, Juliana Yiapan, who spoke at Kanunda Primary School, the annual goal is to meet the ministry’s target of planting 5 million trees nationwide. Yiapan emphasized the importance of community involvement in environmental conservation and highlighted the critical role of the media in raising public awareness about the benefits of tree planting.

The event also saw local leaders and residents participating actively, with John Nyakundi, Chairman of the area Community Health Promoters, expressing gratitude for the knowledge and resources provided through the initiative. Remarks were also made by residents like Susan Motoka, who appreciated the National Tree Growing initiative launched by President William Ruto the previous year.

Kisii County Forest Officer, Manoah Oyioka, reported that Kisii County currently has a tree cover of 26.6% and is aiming to reach 30% by 2032 through partnerships with private farms and educational institutions to plant an additional 10 million trees. Oyioka encouraged local farmers to plant trees on their private lands, particularly during the rainy season, and to integrate fruit trees into their agricultural practices to enhance food security.

This initiative aligns with broader regional efforts, including a recent campaign by Kisii Governor Simba Arati to distribute 200,000 avocado tree seedlings among local farmers, supporting both agricultural diversity and environmental sustainability goals.