Migori: Public Investments and Assets Management PS Cyril Wagunda led Migori County residents in marking the 2025 Mazingira Day. The event that saw the PS donate 2,000 tree seedlings was held at Wasio Comprehensive School in Suna East, Migori County. Leading residents, including students and local administrators in planting trees, Wagunda reaffirmed the government’s commitment to achieving a greener and more sustainable future. The PS underscored the urgent need for environmental conservation, noting that the exercise is a crucial step towards achieving the national goal of planting and nurturing 15 billion trees by 2032.

According to Kenya News Agency, Wagunda stated that the trees planted are a step towards achieving this ambitious but critical target, as the President’s 15 Billion Trees Growing Initiative aims to increase the national tree cover to 30 percent. The PS commended the National Government Administrative Officers (NGAO) team under the leadership of County Commissioner Kisilu Mutua for coordinating the event, noting that the exercise formed part of the national government’s broader initiative to restore degraded landscapes and promote environmental stewardship.

“This year’s Mazingira Day theme focuses on citizen-centric tree growing and environmental stewardship, with special emphasis on fruit trees in schools to promote nutrition and livelihoods,” Wagunda said. He added that the 2,000 trees planted may seem small, but they are part of the critical steps towards the national target, emphasizing that tree planting is not just about mitigating climate change but also about improving livelihoods, food security, and building a greener economy.

At the continental level, Wagunda noted that the initiative supports Africa’s Agenda 2063, which envisions a prosperous and sustainable continent. Through tree planting and ecosystem restoration, Kenya reaffirms its leadership and commitment to environmental stewardship, acting locally while thinking globally. Wagunda also reflected on the symbolic meaning of tree planting, describing it as a long-term investment in future generations.

Wagunda expressed concern over the visible effects of climate change in Migori County, including prolonged droughts, flash floods, and rising temperatures, which have disrupted agricultural production and water supply. He noted that in Migori, climate change is no longer a distant phenomenon, yet communities have witnessed the power of renewal when they unite for a common cause. He urged residents to embrace the spirit of tree planting beyond Mazingira Day, stressing that community participation was key to restoring degraded ecosystems and securing a sustainable future for posterity.