The Principal Secretary of Forestry, Ephantus Kimotho, has encouraged Kenyans to actively participate in tree planting during the ongoing long rains season.

He stated that tree growing is a divine activity, citing sections of the Bible that emphasize humans’ responsibility to take care of the environment and restore degraded ecosystems through tree growing.

He made these comments during the unveiling of the 10 million trees campaign by the Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA) at Ngaini Church in Mathira West, Nyeri County.

PS Kimotho expressed his gratitude for leading efforts to restore Kenya’s degraded ecosystems through tree growing and highlighted the government’s target of increasing Kenya’s tree cover from the current 12% to 30% in ten years.

He urged individuals to participate in tree growing, emphasizing that it is a “whole-of-Government, whole-of-society” approach.

Kimotho also mentioned plans to grow over 2.8 billion trees in farmlands as part of the 15 billion trees strategy, as well as the government’s goal of growing 150 million trees and propagating 600 million seedlings this year.

Furthermore, PS Kimotho emphasized the importance of growing fruit trees for food security and income generation.

He also mentioned the ongoing review of Kenya’s climate change law, which could open up opportunities for tree farmers to earn income from carbon credits.

Rt Rev Thegu Mutahi, the PCEA Moderator, reiterated the church’s commitment to supporting the government’s tree planting targets and announced the church’s plan to set up a tree nursery on a two-acre land in Rumuruti.

Several organizations, including the Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI), Kenya Forestry Service, Equity Bank, and Family Bank, donated tree seeds and seedlings to the PCEA Church at the event, which was attended by government officials, including Mathira West Deputy County Commissioner Anthony Macharia.