Environment and Forestry Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale will lead a tree-planting exercise on Friday, October 18, in Maragoli Hills Forest, Vihiga County. Duale explained that the initiative is aimed at combating deforestation and promoting environmental restoration across Kenya.
He noted that the exercise will help restore the heavily degraded 1,000-acre forest, which has suffered from severe deforestation. The event is part of a government-led weekly tree-planting program designed to fight deforestation.
Duale will be joined by key officials, including Principal Secretaries Festus Ng’eno and Gitonga Mugambi, along with local communities and environmental stakeholders.
“The government’s efforts in rehabilitating Maragoli Hills Forest form part of a larger environmental conservation initiative, which supports Kenya’s long-term climate change mitigation strategies,” he said.
He added that the tree-planting activity aims not only to restore ecological balance in the area but also to involve local communities and partners in the broader climate action and reforestation agenda led by the Ministry.
Duale has consistently spearheaded vital environmental initiatives to restore degraded ecosystems. Recently, he engaged with elders from refugee-hosting communities in Wajir County, accompanied by Wajir South MP Mohamed Adow. Their discussions centered on addressing deforestation caused by excessive wood fuel harvesting in the region.
The CS has also highlighted alarming deforestation in refugee-hosting areas such as Wajir and Garissa Counties. This deforestation, driven by the over-harvesting of trees for fuel, has worsened environmental conditions, leaving residents vulnerable to climate change.
Duale called on international organizations like the UNHCR to provide alternative fuel sources to refugees in order to curb further destruction of the ASAL (Arid and Semi-Arid Lands) ecosystem.
He stressed that the Environment and Forestry Ministry is urgently implementing measures to stop this degradation and restore the fragile ASAL ecosystem, ensuring long-term environmental sustainability.
