Mission15B#JazaMiti: Kenya’s President launches 15-billion tree campaign
Sponsored by UNDP
President Dr William Ruto plants a tree at Kona Baridi in Kajiado County on December 21, 2022. This was during the official launch of the Government’s “National Tree Growing and Restoration Campaign”, to inspire the nation to attain a 30 percent tree cover by 2032.
Today, humanity is facing a triple planetary crisis of climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution, which are threatening the well-being and survival of millions around the world.
Kenya is currently experiencing the worst drought ever witnessed in the last four decades. It has led to loss of over 2.5 million head of livestock and is directly impacting more than four million Kenyans.
The climate change effects over the past 10 years have resulted to immense socio-economic losses that are estimated to be between three to five percent of the National GDP.
President Dr William Ruto has directed that the country should target to raise its tree cover to 30 percent by 2032. This will involve growing of five billion trees in the next five years and 15 billion trees over the next 10 years. To achieve this, every individual is urged to grow a minimum of 300 trees in 10 years. This translates to 30 trees a year.
The Government will recognise outstanding Kenyans, companies and organisations that plant and grow trees by issuance of certificates of Green Conduct. This will be after three years of the commencement of the campaign, which President Dr Ruto launched on December 21, 2022 at Kona Baridi in Kajiado County.
The launch of the “National Tree Growing and Restoration Campaign” that is christened “Mission15B#JazaMiti”, also involved the unveiling of a Jaza Miti App, which will keep track of all trees being grown countrywide. The expression “jaza miti”, in this context, is Kiswahili for fill up the spaces with trees.
The presidential launch of the 15-billion tree campaign also marked the unveiling of the Green Army. This is an initiative of the President, and will engage the youth in tree growing and environmental conservation. It is expected to contribute significantly to youth employment creation.
To address the challenge of plastic pollution, the Government is championing the use of biodegradable potting tubes to replace the plastic ones that have commonly been used to raise tree seedlings in tree nurseries countrywide.
The National Tree Growing and Restoration Campaign launch on December 21, 2022 targeted the planting of a total of 560,000 tree seedlings in various locations countrywide, as detailed here.
