Narasha: Kenyans have been called upon to take advantage of the current extended rainy season to plant more trees in support of the government’s ambitious 15 billion trees programme by 2032. Speaking at Narasha Forest Station in Koibatek, Chief Conservator of Forests Alex Lemarkoko emphasized the importance of every Kenyan’s effort in meeting the national target.
According to Kenya News Agency, Lemarkoko urged the public to utilize the rains for tree planting, announcing that the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) has deployed officers in 11 counties experiencing extended long rains. He highlighted the availability of subsidised seedlings nationwide, with KFS producing 561 million seedlings in the 2023/2024 financial year. The programme has successfully planted 846,868,143 trees to date.
To combat youth unemployment, KFS has engaged 153 youth, women, and community groups in seedling production, resulting in 15 million seedlings worth Sh750 million. Lemarkoko praised the government’s recruitment of over 3,000 forest rangers in the past three years, which has bolstered efforts against illegal logging.
During the 2025 National Tree Planting Campaign in Narasha Forest, 56,000 seedlings were planted with local community support. Baringo alone has planted 11 million seedlings this year, nearing its annual target of 13 million. Narasha Forest, once severely degraded with 5,000 hectares needing restoration, has seen nearly 100 hectares rehabilitated through the initiative.
Community Forest Associations called on the government to improve access roads in forest areas to enhance efficiency. Mzee Joseph Leboo, chairman of the Lembus Council of Elders, urged the fencing of indigenous forests, pointing to the destruction of 11,000 seedlings in the Sawich area by unruly youths. He encouraged young people to respect forest resources and engage in dialogue with authorities over conservation issues.
The campaign is set to expand to nine more counties following successful activities in Baringo and Nakuru, involving community associations, national administration, the prisons department, clergy, the Kenya Red Cross, and the public.
