Cabinet Secretary Hon. Soipan Tuya and Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire led dignitaries at this year’s World Environment Day celebration at the University of Embu. World Environment Day, observed annually on June 5th, was themed, “Accelerating Land Restoration, Drought Resilience, and Combatting Desertification.” Among the attendees were Environment and Climate Change PS Dr. Eng. Festus Ng’eno and NECC Committee Secretary Mary Njogu, accompanied by Committee Members Ernest Mutinda, HSC, and William Nairuko, among other officials. The event featured a tree planting exercise, at the university grounds where 1000 tree seedlings were planted, emphasizing the commitment to environmental sustainability.
Hon. Soipan Tuya joined hands with H.E Governor Hon. Cecily Mbarire, EGH, and the University of Embu, in commissioning the restoration of Kiambuthu Wetland in Embu town as part of this year’s World Environment Day held at the University of Embu grounds. At Kiambuthi Wetland, 160 tree seedlings were planted as part of a larger plan to convert it into a recreational park.
The government is committed to restoring Kenya’s degraded landscapes and ecosystems through a collaborative ‘whole-of-society, whole-of-government’ approach. This effort is guided by the 10-year National Landscape and Ecosystem Restoration Strategy, which underpins the 15 Billion National Tree Growing Programme.
However, the government will not tolerate actions that undermine these efforts. Cabinet Secretary Tuya urged individuals illegally occupying riparian lands, wetlands, forests, and other protected ecosystems to vacate these areas voluntarily. The government will intensify multi-agency security operations nationwide to eliminate ecosystem illegalities, including the unlawful occupation of gazetted forests. The CS also commended recent court rulings that prohibit illegal occupation of protected forests.
The Cabinet Secretary made these remarks during the World Environment Day national celebrations at the University of Embu.
