PS Oluga Urges Siaya Residents to Make Tree Planting a Daily Habit
“We should not wait for a day like today to plant trees. Instead, let us make it a habit to plant trees every day,” said Principal Secretary for Medical Services Dr Ouma Oluga.
As Kenya marked Mazingira Day on October 10, the government called on citizens to take responsibility for environmental conservation through tree planting, in line with President William Ruto’s target of planting 15 billion trees by 2032.
Speaking during a tree-planting exercise today, Dr Oluga urged Kenyans to make tree planting a daily practice rather than an activity reserved for special occasions.
The PS expressed concern over Siaya County’s limited forest cover, noting that the county could be among the least forested areas in the country.
“I was talking to officers from the Kenya Forest Service, and they told me that Siaya County has only two gazetted forests: Got Abiero and Got Ramogi. However, when I visit other counties, such as Meru, I realise that much of the forest cover comes from trees planted in individual homesteads. Whenever I am up there, I can see green homes everywhere,” he said.
Dr Oluga encouraged Siaya residents to embrace tree planting at the household level, noting that individuals could play a significant role in increasing the county’s tree cover.He also urged residents to plant fruit trees, particularly mangoes, to support agricultural development and create economic opportunities for local farmers.
Citing efforts to attract investment in the fruit value chain, Dr Oluga said he had taken the initiative to bring investors from Coca-Cola to Asembo, an area known for mango production.However, he noted that the existing mango varieties did not meet the investors’ market requirements, highlighting the need for farmers to adopt improved varieties.
“I took the initiative and brought investors from Coca-Cola to Asembo, which is known for its mangoes. However, when they conducted their research, they discovered that the existing varieties were outdated. Therefore, we should plant new mango varieties that meet the demands of the current market,” he said.
Dr Oluga’s remarks highlighted the importance of linking environmental conservation with economic development, urging residents to plant trees that not only improve the environment but also provide food and income.He called on the people of Siaya to take advantage of tree planting as a long-term investment in environmental sustainability, food security and livelihoods.
