By Faith Anene, Kakamega
Environment, Climate Change and Forestry Cabinet Secretary Dr. Deborah Barasa has urged Kenyans to embrace tree planting during the long rains season, as she officially launched the Tupande Tree Growing Programme 2025 in Kakamega County.
The initiative is spearheaded by One Acre Fund’s Kenyan program, Tupande, and aligns with the government’s flagship agenda to increase national tree cover to 30 percent by 2032.
Speaking at the launch, CS Barasa commended the collaborative efforts between the private sector and smallholder farmers in advancing environmental conservation.
“One Acre Fund, through its Kenyan program Tupande, has played an extraordinary and pivotal role in collaborating with smallholder farmers to support the government’s environmental goals,” she said.
Barasa also addressed ongoing threats to forest ecosystems, warning against illegal activities such as logging, encroachment, and unregulated farming.
“While we celebrate progress, we must also confront the challenges that persist. Unsustainable practices such as illegal logging, encroachment, and overgrazing continue to degrade our ecosystems, threatening water sources, biodiversity, and livelihoods,” she said.
To address these threats, the government has implemented a raft of legislative and policy measures aimed at protecting and restoring forest cover. The CS urged Kenyans to seize the opportunity presented by the long rains and plant trees, emphasizing their role in combating climate change.
“Let me take this opportunity to invite all Kenyans to come out and grow trees during the current long rains. I urge every Kenyan to grow at least 100 trees for this season,” she said.
Barasa underscored the importance of partnerships between the public and private sectors in realizing the national tree planting agenda, which aims to grow 15 billion trees by 2032 under a Presidential Directive.
“The Ministry acknowledges the vital role played by the private sector in advancing the Presidential Directive of growing 15 billion trees by 2032. Their active participation, alongside other stakeholders, is a testament to the successful implementation of the whole-of-government, whole-of-society approach,” she added.
CS Barasa cautioned against illegal activities threatening forest ecosystems, including encroachment, unauthorized farming, and logging. She noted that such practices continue to undermine environmental gains, endanger water sources, and compromise biodiversity. “Despite the strides made, we must remain vigilant. Unsustainable activities like illegal logging and overgrazing are eroding our ecosystems and livelihoods,” she said, adding that the government has instituted robust legislative and policy frameworks to combat these threats.
Accompanied by Forestry Principal Secretary Mr. Gitonga Mugambi, the CS encouraged communities to leverage the ongoing long rains to plant trees.
She stressed that tree planting is vital in mitigating climate-related disasters such as droughts and floods, which have cost the country 3–5 per cent of its GDP annually over the past decade.
“I invite every Kenyan to take part in this noble cause by planting at least 100 trees this season,” Barasa urged, noting that private sector contributions significantly complement government-led restoration efforts.
Tupande Director Mitchelle Kagari highlighted the program’s milestones, noting that in 2024 alone, Tupande distributed more than 55 million seedlings to over 700,000 farmers across the country.
“Between 2021 and 2024, we’ve distributed 150 million seedlings through various channels, including schools, hospitals, churches, and direct farmer outreach,” Kagari said.
She added that Tupande distributed 5 million seedlings during the 2024 National Tree Planting Day and continues to support farmers to plant trees on their land as part of efforts to reverse deforestation and reduce greenhouse gases.
“Our core goal is to empower and support farmers to plant trees directly within their parcels of land, thereby actively contributing to the reversal of deforestation and the crucial reduction of greenhouse gases,” Kagari said.
