Environment
Kiambu National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), in collaboration with the National Defence Council (NDC), Friends of Ondiri Wetland, and the Kiambu Conservatoire of Forests will embark on a tree planting exercise to mark the Mazingira Day celebrations.
The event is set to take place at the Friends of Ondiri Wetland, where 1,500 seedlings are set to be planted on reclaimed riparian land. According to John Maniafu, the Kiambu County NEMA Director, the number of seedlings will be limited to 1,500 due to the current season and weather conditions.
“We will be limiting the seedlings intended to be planted because of the success rate and the reduced rainfall around the area. But because the areas around the wetland are still wet, we will be able to plant only 1,500 seedlings in celebration of the day,” said Maniafu.
In attendance will be the Principal Secretary for the State Department of Correctional Services, Dr. Salome Muhia Beacco, who will be the chief guest, along with County Executive Committee (CECM) Member for Water, Environment, Energy, and Natural Resources David Kuria.
Previous tree planting exercise in kiambu
The initiative is part of a broader effort to restore the environment and will see participation from various stakeholders, including members of the community, Alliance High School, and Kikuyu Probation Office. This event coincides with the newly designated Mazingira Day, a national holiday that will be celebrated for the first time this year across the 47 counties following its redesignation from Utamaduni Day.
The announcement was made by Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change, and Forestry, Hon. Aden Bare Duale, who emphasized the day’s focus on accelerating environmental conservation efforts to combat climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution.
Duale, in a statement to the press yesterday, called on Kenyans to engage in activities such as tree planting, clean-ups, and forums promoting waste reduction and recycling to further national environmental goals. He highlighted Kenya’s ambitious plan to restore 10.6 million hectares of degraded land and plant 15 billion trees by 2032 under the National Landscape and Ecosystem Restoration Programme.
“I encourage all Kenyans to actively participate in Mazingira Day by engaging in environmental initiatives such as cleaning up homes, roads, parks, and public spaces, planting trees, and attending forums that highlight pollution control and waste reduction,” said Duale.
This initiative reflects President William Ruto’s commitment to sustainability, following his assent to the Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendments Bill 2024), which formalized Mazingira Day as a public holiday on April 24, 2024.