Miss Environment Kenya joins Machakos tree planting campaign

Machakos Chief Officer of Environment Simon Kitheka has encouraged residents of Machakos County to plant trees as one way of improving the environment.

Speaking on Saturday after leading a tree-planting exercise at Matetani forest in Kangundo Sub-county, Kitheka said the worsening climate change conditions in Kenya can be reversed if citizens plant more trees.

He stressed the significance of tree planting exercise, maintaining that trees play critical roles in combating desertification, flooding and climate impacts, while supporting biodiversity and long term sustainable development across the country.

Mr Kitheka who has been leading a campaign to plant a million trees in Machakos County, urged residents to do more to conserve the environment.

“Let’s ensure that even the smallest step we take in our daily lives will be an effort towards conserving nature and natural resources,'’Mr Kitheka said who represented Governor Wavinya Ndeti in tree planting 
campaign.

He therefore urge residents of the residents to ensure that they did not only plant the commemorative tree but nurture such trees to maturity as a testament to those who are coming behind.

Mr Kitheka explained that the initiative was to address environmental challenges threatening livelihoods and public health across communities in the county.

Speaking at the same even participate in the  tree planting campaign ,area administrator Moses Mitaa who is also acting Administrator in Matungulu Sub-County, warned all those involved in illegal felling of trees using them for charcoal to desist as county government will not treat anyone caught with kid gloves.

He rather encouraged residents to plant more trees to complement Governor Wavinya Ndeti's ongoing effort to plant millions of trees across the county and also continue supporting her policies and programmes for continuation of growth and development in the county.

The Administrator assured residents that the  forest will be protected by ensuring that the trees in the forest were protected from illegal felling.

“If we must continue to live in good health, planting of trees will be a strategy that must be embraced,” he added.

Miss Environment Kenya 2026, Regina Syombua, advised residents to intensify efforts  towards rehabilitating the environment through tree planting.

Regina ,who has been leading a campaign to plant a million trees in the country, noted that trees play significant role in the fight against environmental problems, which include global warming.

"I am calling on residents to plant more trees because the world needs trees now more than ever and also protect the environment and try to be a role model like the late Prof Wangari Maathai, who used a lot of her time in protecting the environment and planted many trees country wide," she added.

Area residents who participate in the tree planting exercise were given fruit trees to plant at their home farm ,given them were avocado ,jack fruit, mango, soursop, orange etc.

Some of the fruit trees planted were avocado, jack fruit, mango, soursop, orange among others.