Badilisha, Treasury CS Ndung'u Lead Tree Planting Exercise in Kipipiri

By John Kariuki

Over 8500 seedlings have been planted in Kiambogo Village, Geta Ward, Kipipiri Sub-County on the day of the official launch of the National Tree Growing Restoration Campaign initiated by the President on Mashujaa Day this year.

During the exercise, on a chilly day in the slopes of the Aberdares – sandwiched between Kipipiri Ridge and the Aberdare Ranges – hundreds of residents gathered in an exercise led by Cabinet Secretary for The National Treasury and Economic Planning, Hon. (Prof.) Njuguna Ndung’u, and His Excellency Governor (Dr.) Moses Kiarie Badilisha to “indemnify ourselves against effects of climate change and guarantee food security for all”.

This is part of a national campaign which targets to grow trees- a new concept away from the traditional model of planting- for conservation, food security and economic development. The ten-year programme seeks to grow 15 billion trees, restore 10.6 million hectares of land, and improve national tree cover to 30%. Nyandarua’s tree cover stands at 27% and is among the highest in the country.

“Our target is to grow it to 37%. We must protect this ecosystem which is critical for provision of water to both the County and the nation. As a County, we have witnessed the effects of climate change and resultant drought. Hence, we have committed to be environmental champions for the present and posterity,” Governor Badilisha told the residents. He also called on every Kenyan to grow a minimum of 300 trees in the next five years.

Present were the Principal Secretary for Transport Hon. (Eng.) Joseph Mungai Mbugua, Deputy Governor His Excellency Mathara Mwangi, the County Commissioner Mr. Amos Mariba, and a host of other senior National and County Government officials.