Kenya Launches Nationwide Tree Planting Exercise to Combat Climate Change

Wajir(Mogadishu24)-The Government of Kenya launched a nationwide tree-planting exercise on Monday to combat the effects of climate change, with the goal of planting over 10 million trees across the country.

The President of Kenya led the national tree-growing exercise at an event held in Kiu Wetland in Makueni County.

Cabinet Secretary for Interior, Kithure Kindiki, launched the National Tree Growing exercise in the Northeastern region, aiming to plant 300,000 trees with 100,000 in each of the counties of Mandera, Wajir, and Garissa.

“More than 300,000 tree seedlings will be planted in the North Eastern Region, with a target of 100,000 tree seedlings in each of the three Counties; Garissa, Mandera, and Wajir. Each of the 441 Chiefs in the Region will coordinate the planting and growing of at least 680 trees in their Locations,” said Hon. Kithure Kindiki, Kenya’s Interior Minister.

The Minister declared climate change as a security threat, ranking it alongside terrorism, banditry, and other major offenses that pose a threat to national security.

“We consider and have defined climate change as one of the five major security threats facing our Country today. The perennial friction pitting farmers against pastoralists, often resulting in loss of lives, injury, and destruction of property, is a consequence of the scramble for limited resources due to climate change,” he said.

“The other four national security threats are terrorism, banditry and livestock rustling, trade, use and abuse of illicit alcohol, narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, and cultural, religious and political extremism.”

He directed government administrative officers to spearhead the exercise, and urged Kenyans to participate in conserving the environment by planting and growing trees.