Government to tighten protection of Kenya’s natural heritage

EMILY KADZO-KNA

The Government is stepping up efforts to protect Kenya’s natural heritage, with Defence CS Soipan Tuya saying key policies are under review.

Tuya called on Kenyans to take a leading role in environmental conservation by embracing tree planting as a patriotic duty to safeguard the country’s future.

The Cabinet Secretary said Kenya is making remarkable progress in its quest to plant 15 billion trees by 2032 an initiative aimed at combating the effects of climate change and restoring degraded ecosystems.

“To combat climate change, the government is targeting the planting of 15 billion trees by 2032 to increase our forest cover.

"I urge all Kenyans, institutions and communities to support this noble cause by planting at least one fruit tree. This not only promotes environmental conservation but also enhances food and nutritional security,” Tuya noted.

Speaking at Ilkujuka Junior School in Loita Ward, Narok County, during a tree planting exercise the Cabinet Secretary emphasized that Greening Kenya means transforming the world into a better place for generations to come. 

“The journey to restore our forests with indigenous trees may be long and demanding, but it is a necessary investment for our country’s posterity. The generations after us will depend on the actions we take today,” she said.

Tuya added that every Kenyan has a responsibility to support biodiversity by providing habitats for wildlife through tree planting.

"Planting trees remains one of the most effective ways to restore and expand forest cover, protect fragile ecosystems and preserve biological diversity,” she noted.

She highlighted the National Assembly’s role in enacting legislation that promotes environmental sustainability, citing the Kenya Forest Policy (2014), Land Act (2012), Forest Conservation and Management Act (2016), and the National Climate Change Response Strategy all of which provide frameworks to guide tree planting and forest protection efforts.

“Environmental conservation is crucial for protecting biodiversity, maintaining ecosystem stability and ensuring sustainable resource management,” added the Cabinet Secretary.

Under President William Ruto’s Jaza Miti initiative, Kenya aims to achieve 30 per cent forest cover by 2032, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and rehabilitate degraded landscapes.