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Deputy President’s spouse Dr. Joyce Kithure has called on Kenyans to step up tree planting efforts as a practical way to combat the effects of climate change.
Speaking in Kathwana, Tharaka Nithi County, on Friday during the distribution of over 20,000 fruit tree seedlings donated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Dr. Kithure warned that arid and semi-arid regions remain highly vulnerable to drought, food insecurity, and erratic rainfall.
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“Climate change is no longer a distant threat, it is a present reality,” she said, urging Kenyans to adopt tree planting as a key solution.
She emphasized that trees conserve water, reduce soil erosion, and absorb carbon dioxide, helping to make ecosystems healthier and more resilient.
The fruit tree distribution is part of the Church’s ‘Trees for Food Project’, which has so far donated more than 500,000 seedlings across 31 counties since 2021. The initiative aligns with President William Ruto’s national target of planting 15 billion trees by 2032.
Dr. Kithure, who spearheads the SaVE Communities Program, said the initiative supports efforts to expand access to clean water, promote clean energy, drive modern farming, enhance value addition, and strengthen climate change adaptation.
She added that the choice of fruit trees is particularly impactful, since they are drought-resistant, less labor-intensive, and provide both food and income, offering communities sustainable solutions to environmental and economic challenges.
“Today’s initiative aligns perfectly with the SaVE Communities Project, a program designed to tackle environmental and social challenges through science, innovation, and technology,” she noted.
