Where To Get Your Free Trees For Planting On Monday- Govt

After Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki gazetted Monday, November 13 a public holiday to mark National Tree Planting Day, the government is giving out free trees to Kenyans willing to participate in the celebrations.

In a statement issued on Friday, Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo revealed that interested Kenyans are advised to pick the free tree seedlings from their nearest chief's office for planting at the area of their choice.

"Members of the public are advised to visit their nearest Chief's office for tree seedlings and liaise with the area Assistant County Commissioner and Deputy County Commissioner in respective Counties," stated Omollo in part.

Environment Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya on her part revealed that tree seedlings in selected community nurseries will avail two seedlings per county at a small fee, further boring that some private institutions offered to donate trees to the government.

"Additionally, there are millions of seedlings in private nurseries, run by women and youth groups in Community Forest Associations and community-based organizations across the country, available at a fee. I would like to urge fellow citizens that in the true Kenyan spirit, let us buy a seedling or two from these community-run nurseries and plant in our shambas.

"I know being a public holiday, many of us will take advantage of the break to attend to other private and social obligations, but for the sake of the wellbeing of our environment and for mother nature, and as a call to national duty, I urge all of us to honour the National Tree Growing Day. If each of us planted at least two seedlings on Monday, we will instantly hit the campaign target for the day of 100 Million seedlings," CS Tuya assured.

CS Tuya and PS Omollo further encouraged Kenyans to take pictures of the tree-planting event and upload them on the Jaza Miti mobile application, which is specifically dedicated to showcasing and monitoring the tree-planting day as it takes place in real-time.

The app is currently available for download on the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store.

On that day, President William Ruto will launch the exercise at Kiu Wetland in Makindu, Makueni County. At the County level, tree-growing activities will be championed by Cabinet Secretaries in at least two counties, hosted by respective Governors and supported by Principal Secretaries, County Commissioners, and other Senior Government/State officials.

CS Tuya stated that there are 150 million plantable seedlings at Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI) and Kenya Forest Services (KFS) nurseries across the country, as well as nurseries of other Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government.

"National Government Administrative Officers (NGAOs) will be supporting the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry in coordinating the exercise which is part of Kenya's Landscape and Ecosystem Restoration Programme - towards the growing of 15 billion trees.

"County Commissioners have already convened technical planning teams in their respective counties comprising of representatives from the KFS, and National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) among other government and non-government stakeholders," added PS Omollo.

The National Tree Growing Day has been set aside taking advantage of the ongoing short rains.

This is the first time Kenya is marking national tree-planting Day as a public holiday. However, it is yet to be clear whether the holiday gazetted for November 13 will be a one-time event or be marked every year.

Environment CS, Soipan Tuya during a tree planting exercise at the Council of Governors retreat in Narok County on November 8, 2023. /SOIPAN TUYA