The Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry is seeking a budget allocation of Ksh. 19 billion for President William Ruto’s tree growing project.
While appearing before the National Assembly Environmental Committee on May 15, State Department of Forestry PS Gitonga Mugambi informed the committee that the Ministry needs the cash for the drive to succeed.
The PS stated that they need an additional Ksh. 350 million to cover the costs of coordination activities and administration purposes.
“PS Mugambi highlighted the need to allocate Ksh. 19 billion for the tree growing programme, with an additional Ksh. 350 million for coordination and administration,” read part of the committee report.
A committee Member however called on him to prioritize the issue of housing for forest rangers and to consider making more revenue from available trees in the country’s forests.
Ruto Tree Growing Project
According to the head of state, the tree growing drive is aimed at helping the government achieve its target of planting 15 billion trees by 2032.
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The programme is a flagship Government climate action initiative anchored by the 10-year National Landscape and Ecosystem Restoration Strategy that seeks to raise Kenya’s tree cover by 17.8% from the current 12.2% to 30% by the year 2032.
In total, the Government seeks to restore 10.6 million hectares of degraded ecosystems and landscapes across 11 intervention areas.
The climax of the programme last year was Kenya’s first Green Holiday held on 13th November 2023 during which over a record 150 million trees were grown on one day across the Country; led by William Ruto at Kiu Wetland in Makueni County.
Furthermore, Ruto declared May 10, 2024, a public holiday for tree growing as a singular long-term solution to the climate crisis and its devastating effects on life and livelihoods.
During the tree-planting exercise in Kiambicho Forest in Murang’a Ruto said the project will continue for the next six months, with every ministry allocated a day for planting trees.
The Ministry of Environment Expresses Concern over Low Allocation
During the meeting, the Ministry also expressed concerns that their proposed budget cuts would hinder the implementation of their programs.
These concerns were raised during the Committee’s meeting with the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry CS, Soipan Tuya, regarding the consideration of the 2024/25 Financial Year Budget Estimates.
In her presentation before the David Gikaria-led Committee, CS Tuya attributed the slow implementation of projects in previous financial years to budget cuts.
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“Allow me to inform this Committee those financial constraints in terms of inadequate funding, budget cuts and delayed release of exchequer funds are to blame for slow implementation of planned projects”, Tuya explained.
“In relation to the proposed Budgetary allocations with respect to the 2024/25 Financial Year, the State Department for Environment and Climate Change had been allocated Ksh. 6.3 billion as per approved budget policy statement (BPS) while the current proposed allocation is Ksh 4.7 billion leading to an adverse variance of Ksh 1.6 billion.”
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