Interior Principal Secretary Dr Raymond Omollo on Monday, November 4 launched the Chiefs’ Climate Action Day at Ondiri Wetlands in Kikuyu Constituency, Kiambu County.

The initiative is a strategy aimed at addressing climate change and implement the directive by President William Ruto to plant 15 billion trees by 2032.

The Government’s plan to plant 15 billion trees by 2032 is aimed at: reducing greenhouse emissions, stopping and reversing deforestation and, restoring 5.1 million hectares of deforested and degraded landscapes through the African Landscape Restoration Initiative which was launched on 22nd December 2022.

In this new initiative, all 3,950 chiefs across Kenya are part of a national effort to achieve the goal of 15 billion trees.

Each location has a target to plant at least 250 trees every month. “We must meet our target. This target ensures we’re consistently working towards our national goal. Every tree planted brings us closer to a greener, more resilient Kenya,” a circular from the Ministry of Interior says.

By so doing, the Ministry says that it is securing “our future through climate action”, as more trees mean cleaner air, better water retention and improved soil health. “By acting now, we’re protecting our children’s future and Kenya’s prosperity,” the Ministry adds.

During the Chiefs’ Climate Action Day, each chief will be expected to mobilise the public and other stakeholders on the first Friday of every month to plant at least 250 trees per location.

The Chiefs’ Climate Action Day will be implemented by the State Department for Internal Security and National Administration.