KEPSA Environment Water and Natural Resources Sector Board Members attended the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry monitoring exercise for the Special Presidential Program for Forestry and Rangelands Restoration towards the achievement of the National Tree Growing Campaign for 30% tree cover.

As part of the special program, Five thousand six hundred trees 5,600 trees were planted during the 56th birthday by H.E President Dr. William Ruto in December 2022 The visit was overseen by Cabinet Secretary- Hon. Soipan Tuya on 17^th March 2023 at Kona Baridi in Ngong Forest Block in Kajiado County. An additional 3,600 trees were planted during the monitoring exercise. 

The event was graced by Pakistani Ambassador to Kenya, Ms Saqlain Syedah who has individually planted 131 trees since she came to Kenya one year ago. The Pakistani government is working closely with the Kenyan government to oversee the implementation of 15 billion tree planting in 10 years. The Pakistani government plan is 10 billion in 5 years. 

Over the next ten years, employment will be created in seedling production, tree planting and maintenance, forest rangers and foresters, community scouts and maintenance of forest resources, stated Hon. Tuya. Furthermore, the ministry is keen on overseeing the vibrancy of County Environmental Committees and has proposed membership to include Kenya Forestry Service - KFS, Kenya Forest Research Institute - KEFRI and other players that had not been considered before. It's is also a  good opportunity for private sector to tap  in through representation.  The NG-CDF has an allocation of close to 2% on environmental matters. Hon. Tuya is further going to seek for enforcement of the same across 290 constituencies through purchase of tree seedlings and employment of youth to oversee the growth and management of the same. 

She called upon communities and the private sector to support the initiative through adoption of forest  blocs, growth of trees and management of the same towards increasing the country’s forest cover. During the occasion, all institutions both public and private got an opportunity to introduce themselves on what they do and how they can work with the Ministry towards achievement of 30% forest cover by the year 2032. The private Sector committed to support in cash and in-kind pledge valued at Ksh 6.4 Billion and continues to implement the commitment. KEPSA was represented by the Environment Institute of Kenya, Kenya Association of Manufacturers, Bamburi Cement Ltd, Airtel Africa, Safaricom and BIDCO Africa Limited.