By Tony Wafula
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has announced that teachers will lead an initiative to plant one million trees to mark World Teachers’ Day. Speaking at Bungoma High School on Wednesday, Western Region TSC Director Wilson Koros said teachers had taken up the challenge to support the government’s target of planting 15 billion trees nationwide.
“We have gathered here at Bungoma High School to launch the World Teachers’ Day celebrations, which will be held on Sunday 5th. As part of this, teachers will participate in tree planting to boost forest cover across the region,” Koros said.
He added that the exercise would not be confined to Bungoma alone but would take place nationally. “Every sub-county is holding its own event, with each teacher expected to plant five fruit trees across the country,” he noted.
Koros explained that the focus on fruit trees was deliberate, with the dual aim of improving nutrition and promoting environmental conservation. “We want to enhance the nutritional value for the nation by planting fruit trees,” he said.
Bungoma County Forest Conservator Erick Abungu, in his address, stated that the county aims to plant 19.3 million trees annually across the Mt Elgon ecosystem, institutions, and homesteads, as part of efforts to mitigate climate change.
He noted that 30 per cent of the 15 billion trees under President William Ruto’s national tree-planting drive should ideally be fruit trees. The Head of State has prioritised tree planting to ensure Kenya achieves its target of 15 billion trees by 2032. He has cited avocado as a high-value fruit, both for its health benefits and export potential.
Abungu emphasised that alongside tree planting, fruit trees must be integrated to improve nutrition, health, and livelihoods. Currently, our tree nurseries have 4.2 million seedlings. I urge Bungoma residents to visit any Kenya Forest Service (KFS) group or individual tree nursery to collect seedlings for planting,” he said.
He added that seedlings are available at subsidised prices at all KFS nurseries, noting that the Service’s mandate is to protect, conserve, and sustainably manage ecosystems. Abungu further reported that tree cover in Bungoma currently stands at 22.04 per cent, with a target to raise this to 30 per cent by 2032. “It is both your responsibility and mine to ensure that we increase the number of trees within our county so we can attain the 30 per cent tree cover target,” he stressed.
He warned that the effects of climate change were already being felt, citing the drying up of rivers, streams, and dams due to deforestation. He reiterated that the Kenya Forest Service is committed to supporting the government’s target of 15 billion trees in five years, pledging that the organisation would ensure at least one billion trees are planted as part of a greener future.
