Kenya has gained a special holiday which aims to encourage “each and every Kenyan, to their own initiative” to help the government reach their ambitious goal of planting 15bilion trees in the next decade.
Kenyan Environment Minister, Soipan Tuya, hopes to encourage Kenyans to plant at least 2 seedlings, which she hopes will to the 100million target. In 2022, the Global Carbon Budget released data showing Kenya has contributing 0.05% of Global Carbon emissions, so, by making 150million seeds available in public nurseries the Kenyan Government hopes to tackle the climate crisis and their carbon footprint- despite it being considerably lower than countries such as the UK, US and China.
The government are monitoring the scheme with the Jazza Miti App which they hope will boost engagement through in-app activities such as the opportunities to record their activities, including the date and time, date and species of tree planted. Not only this, but the environment ministry said the app will recommend appropriate seedlings by matching their site and location with appropriate tree species. Commenting on the initial success of the scheme and app, Ms Tuya, the first Massai woman to hold Office in Kenya, told local TV that there had already been 2million registrations on the app by Sunday (12th November).
The effects of the climate crisis have been widespread and lethal in the East African nation, as it is currently grappling with the aftermath the El Niño rains which decimated the north eastern region of the country in particular, leading to dozens of deaths with even more displaced.
Last month the OCHA- the UNs Humanitarian agency- warned that the Horn of Africa would be likely to receive heavier rainfall than normal during the months of October and November. For this reason, it was announced that planting of the seedlings would not be happening in the north eastern regions
Whilst many Kenyans, as well as many in the international community, have praised the initiative of Tuya and the Kenyan Government, there have been concerns regarding the scheme and its holiday.
Despite supporting the initiative on a broader scale, environmentalist Teresa Muthoni Maina Gitonga, had concerns regarding the organisation, stating it wasn’t implemented in a way that would ensure everyone was planting trees. On this issue, that said “many people have to continue with their work to put food on the table [...] it is coming at a time when our economy is not doing well so a lot of people are struggling financially”.
The Kenyan environmentalist also criticised the type of trees made available in the public nurseries were exotic, noting that “it is very important to plant the right trees in the right place”.
The government has also been increasingly condemned for their apparent hypocrisy for championing tree planting despite failing to tame illegal tree logging in the public forest.
Despite recently lifting the ban on logging, Tuya said in her broadcast on Sunday that only commercial forests will be affecting by the recent lifting of the ban. Commercial forests make up 5% of Kenyan woodland
Despite criticism, the Government said the planting will continue after the holiday, with aims of planting 500million trees by the end of the December rainy season.