Public Service, Gender, Senior Citizens Affairs and Special Programmes CS Prof. Margaret Kobia has called on Kenyans to plant more trees as a way of mitigating the effects of climate change.
Prof. Kobia said the trees we plant today will benefit future generations as they will stabilize the soil and protect the country’s biodiversity.
Speaking Monday during the ministry’s annual tree planting exercise in Ngong Hill forest, involving various stakeholders, the CS in a speech read on her behalf by the Ministry’s Chief Administrative Secretary Abdul Bahari emphasized on environmental conservation as a key pointer in providing effective service delivery, and called on the involvement of members of the community in environmental conservation efforts to mitigate climate change.
She urged members of the public to engage more in tree planting exercises, adding that such activities also serve to raise awareness to the surrounding community on the importance of planting and saving trees.
Kobia further stated that the government has been undertaking tree planting activities as a way of mitigating climate change, in line with the presidential directive for public service organizations to integrate conservation and environmental protection into their programmes.
“You will also recall that on May 27, 2022 during the launch of an accelerated tree growing campaign, President Uhuru Kenyatta assured the international community of Kenya’s commitment to combating the challenges arising from climate change by increasing Kenya’s forest cover to at least 30 per cent by 2050,” she noted.
Meanwhile, the ministry of Public service has made innovations to transform service delivery to its citizens, even as the country holds public service exhibition week at the KICC commencing Tuesday.
The event will showcase outstanding innovations that have transformed how services are delivered to the citizenry in the last ten years.
Public Service PS Mary Kimonye who joined stakeholders in planting over a thousand trees at the Ngong forest ahead of the Africa Public Service day commemorated every June 23 reiterated the commitment of the national government towards environmental conservation and the transformation of the public service to ensure efficient and quality service delivery.
“This activity is being undertaken in line with one of this year’s sub-theme of environmental conservation and climate change initiatives to provide Kenyan citizens with a clean, secure and sustainable environment. The public service has undergone transformation in the administrative systems to promote efficient and quality service delivery to all Kenyan citizens,” said Kimonye.
The PS emphasized the importance of an efficient public service towards achieving, The Agenda 2063 of the African Union and the sustainable development goals.
The theme for this year, “Celebrating Public Service Transformation: Ten Year Journey and Beyond,” reflects the government’s deliberate effort to transform the Public Service in order to ensure effective and efficient service delivery to the Citizenry.
On the other hand, the sub theme focuses on the need for national strategies to mitigate against climate change, with emphasis on trees and forests, which play an essential role in mitigating the impact of climate change.
“As part of the global community and in line with the sub-theme, the Ministry responsible for Public Service has been undertaking tree planting activities as a way of mitigating climate change effects and for the benefit of our communities,” said the PS.
Kimonye added that the Ministry adopted a five-acre land in the Ngong Hills as part of the initiative that involves the community and that it funds it so that they can create jobs for the residents while at it.
During the function, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) donated a 1000 trees that were planted, while NYS provided logistical support.
Other dignitaries present at the exercise included Social Protection PS Nelson Marwa, Public Service Commissioner Salma Abdulahi Ahmed, UNDP Officials, Forest Service officers among other dignitaries.
By Gworo Alice
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