The community living near Kinale Forest in Lari constituency, Kiambu County, has vowed to support President William Ruto’s initiative of planting 15 billion trees by 2032.
They stated that since the government had allowed them to cultivate its forests, thereby adding more food to their table, it was their responsibility to ensure its forest projects succeed.
Daniel Njinu, secretary of the Kinale Community Forest Association (CFA), said they have established seedbeds of different types of trees to support the national initiative.
Njinu added that the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) has allocated them a piece of land where they have established the seedbeds, noting that some members have also planted seedbeds at their homes.
“We cannot allow the government’s plan to fail. It has allowed us to cultivate in its forests and, in return, we are entitled to support it where we can. We have a lot of seedlings that we aim to use in supporting the national tree planting exercise,” he noted.
Njinu said locals have planted potatoes and vegetables in the forest under the Plantation Establishment Livelihood Systems (PELS) program, which replaced the Shamba System and promotes better forest management.
“We tend to the planted seedlings as we cultivate our food crops. Since the seedlings we planted came from our seedbeds, we ensure they do not dry up,” Njinu said.
He spoke at the seedbeds during an impromptu visit on Saturday by KFS Chief Conservator Alex Lemarkoko to inspect the Kinale forest nurseries.
The KFS is in the process of expanding its seedling production capacity.
The expansion is part of national efforts to increase Kenya’s tree cover to at least 30 per cent and restore degraded landscapes by growing 15 billion trees by 2032.
Mr. Lemarkoko expressed satisfaction with the progress achieved so far, saying that the initiative presents a valuable opportunity to serve the nation by contributing to environmental restoration and climate resilience.
Another resident, Joram Gachumi, said they will always participate in every tree planting exercise, as well as contribute ideas on forest protection.
“We have been participating in tree planting and cultivating in the forest under the Plantation Establishment and Livelihood Systems, among other activities done in the forest,” Gachumi said.
