Baringo. - As for the Kenyan Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir Kenya is on the right track to becoming a green country. It is currently "number six globally in geothermal development" and "about 93 per cent green country", he said during the national tree planting exercise in Chemususu Forest in Eldama Ravine, Baringo County. The plan is the planting of trees to enable the achievement of 15 billion trees and 30 per cent forest cover by 2032, as reported by Capital FM.

The achievement of this target will help the country to experience better conservation of biodiversity, sustained livelihoods, improved climate resilience and improved socio-economic development of communities, claimed Chirchir and added that the ministry of energy is involved since they know hydroelectric generation which stands at 30 per cent of power produced in Kenya relies on water.

On matters electricity the CS said the proximity of power to homes has improved from 22 percent in 2017 to now 75 percent and is optimistic that it may get to 100 percent in the next three years in Baringo. He asked the residents to take advantage of the short rains to plant trees so that by the end of it will be strongly rooted and improve its chances of maturing.

The host governor Benjamin Cheboi reiterated the importance of growing trees saying it will ease off conflict for communities fighting for water resources. He reminisced the old days when they would tour lake Baringo whose waters were clean but now are soiled due to siltation as a result of bare land. Cheboi asked the agencies involved to ensure that 30 percent of seedlings they give are fruit seedlings so that they can enhance food security as well as earn the farmers a living.

=> Read the full article: https://www.capitalfm.co.ke/news/2023/11/kenya-is-a-green-country-says-energy-cs-as-he-leads-tree-planting/