Defence CS Tuya Leads KDF Personnel to Tree Planting in Kwale
By The COAST Reporter
Email, thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com
Defence cabinet secretary Soipan Tuya today, December 13, 2024, leads a team of Kenya Defence Forces’ personnel from Mariakani Garrison to plant mangrove seedlings at the Dongo Kundu zone in Kwale County.
Led by commandant brigadier Douglas Mokwena and Ministry of Defence civilians, the personnel conducted the tree-planting exercise off Mteza Bridge where 60,000 mangrove seedlings were planted.
The exercise is in contribution to the government program to plant 15 billion trees by 2032 apart from contributing to the KDF environmental soldier programme.
Kinango MP Gonzi Rai, in conjunction with the deputy county commissioner Lucy Ndemo led the local community and security team respectively and and other partners including Kenya Forest Services, ABSA bank and Greens of Africa Foundation in the planting activity.
The CS noted that mangrove trees played a vital role in the ecosystem through providing crucial breeding grounds for fish.
However, she added they (mangroves swarms) were an endangered species, facing threats such as over-harvesting by local communities, which contributed to deforestation.
The secretary called on the community to avoid cutting down the trees for charcoal or any other purpose which she said was destructive to the environmental efforts.
According to her the community should sustain the efforts in place by ensuring the trees grow to maturity by taking good care of them.
The CS committed to support the community in the tree planting and growing initiative while calling on other partners to support the community through buying the tree seedlings from them.
The planting of 60,000 seedlings was also in honour of the Kenya Navy at 60 years that will be celebrated tomorrow, December 14, 2024.
