The Cabinet Secretary Ministry of Roads and Transport Kipchumba Murkomen participated in a Mangrove Planting Exercise during the National Tree Planting Ceremony in Nairobi, Kenya today (Sunday), November 12, 2023. He emphasised the role of planting trees in one’s life.
He urged members of the public and state agencies to make tree growing a part of their day-to-day lives. During a mangrove planting exercise in Mikindani, Mombasa County, the Cabinet Secretary noted that every tree planted and grown is a breath of new life.
He highlighted that mother nature has consistently rewarded the human race as we nurture it, and the time is appropriate to repay the debt by safeguarding our planet from environmental degradation for the benefit of future generations.
Today’s exercise aligns with the presidential directive of efforts to build climate change resilience by growing 15 Billion Trees to achieve 30% tree cover.
Cabinet Secretary Murkomen highlighted that the transport sector contributes highly to the carbon footprint and pledged that by growing trees, the industry will contribute to mitigating the effects of climate change.
With a target of 30 million trees, he acknowledged that agencies within his docket would be instrumental in spearheading tree growing in both terrestrial and mangrove ecosystems.
Several other dignitaries from the state and Forest Service Department attended the event.
These include Principal Secretary State Department of Transport Mohammed Dagaa, Regional Conservators Cordinator Francis Kariuki, Mombasa County Government officials, the KFS Coast Conservancy team led by Regional Forest Conservator James Mburu, local political leaders, the National Government Administrative Officers and the local community.
Reportedly, Cabinet Secretary, Kipchumba Murkomen, has collaborated with the Kenya Forest Service and other agencies. The aim of the event was to plant 30,000 mangrove trees in the Ganahola area of Mombasa.
The event aligns with the President’s programme for the Accelerated Restoration of Forests and Rangelands, which aims to plant 15 billion trees in the country in ten years.
The government has set ten-year tree-growing target of 7.5 million trees for Mombasa, with 248,415 trees expected during short rains. The county government seedling propagation target is 1.2 million seedlings.
Murkomen asked the residents to volunteer and participate in large numbers. He asked the people to protect forests.