Vice CDF Leads 12,000 Tree Planting Effort in Vihiga to Mark Mazingira Day

By Collins Wanzalah

Lt. General John Omenda, Vice Chief of the Defence Forces, spearheaded a tree planting exercise in Vihiga County in celebration of Mazingira Day. The event, held in collaboration with the Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary (OPCS), saw Omenda and other servicemen plant trees at Maragoli Hills as part of a broader national reforestation initiative.

Omenda emphasized the significance of the effort, noting that the exercise aimed to plant 12,000 trees in alignment with President William Ruto’s ambitious target of planting 15 billion trees by 2030, highlighting Kenya’s commitment to environmental sustainability and global climate action.

“This exercise is a key step in restoring our environment and advancing the President’s vision of a greener future for Kenya,” Omenda remarked.

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, represented by Juliana Yiapan, the Principal Administrative Secretary in the ministry, praised the initiative. Yiapan stated that Mudavadi has long championed climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies, especially through efforts to increase forest cover across the country.

Vihiga County Deputy Governor Wilberforce Kitiezo, Acting County Commissioner Florence Sitawa, and County Forest Officer Fred Otsieno also attended the event, alongside local community leaders, schools, NEMA officers, and various partners. Together, they underscored the importance of collective action in building a greener, more sustainable Kenya.