Letter to President William Ruto: Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday, Mr. President. Congratulations on making a firm #environmental commitment on your birthday! I hope this announcement is not just for the sake of the bet but comes along with supportive policy and legal instruments to support its achievement. I am confident that we have all of the necessary institutional frameworks in place to make this a reality, because #Kenya 's most recent Nationally Determined Contributions (#NDCs ) clearly articulate our country's aspirations in addressing climate change. Achieving the desired 30% forest cover will require leadership in making the legal and policy framework work for this national mission of greening Kenya. The truth is that Kenya is facing a major problem with its green cover; the country has lost over 50% of its forests in the past 59 years. This loss has had a severe impact on the environment, with increased soil erosion, reduced rainfall, and a decline in biodiversity.

I personally will support the initiative. Before we dig the holes and transport our seedlings to the fields, which I hope will extend beyond planting trees in Ngong and Karura forests to include some of the country's arid and semi-arid lands (ASALS). I thought we could share some thoughts following your announcement. One of the things that will happen in the coming weeks following your clarion call is that many organizations will come onboard to provide support. I have personally decried some private sector actions that have been more led by "brand optics" and some "corporate social responsibility" that have not yielded fruits. In fact, these actions have led to the wastage of resources in the name of "tree planting" instead of "growing trees," thereby compounding the problem. First, insist that those who want to support your birthday commitment must endeavour to?grow trees?and not?plant trees.

There are other reasons why many tree planting projects in Kenya have failed in the past. One of the main reasons is a lack of proper planning and preparation. Many tree planting projects have been undertaken without proper research and analysis of the local ecosystem and the types of trees that are best suited to the area. This has to do with the planting of inappropriate tree species, which may not thrive in the local environment and ultimately die. Euphoric tree planting is wasteful.

The failure of tree planting projects in Kenya is often due to inadequate long-term maintenance and care. Despite initial enthusiasm and funding, many projects do not provide sufficient follow-up care to ensure the survival and growth of the trees, resulting in high rates of tree mortality and a minimal increase in the green cover of the region. To achieve a real and lasting impact, it is crucial to prioritize ongoing maintenance and care for these planted trees.

One major reason why tree planting initiatives in Kenya often fail is the absence of community involvement and support. When these projects are initiated and executed by external organizations or government agencies without adequate input from and collaboration with local communities, there is often a lack of ownership and responsibility among community members. This can severely impact the success of the project. To ensure the success of tree planting initiatives in Kenya, it is crucial that local communities are actively engaged and involved in the planning and implementation processes. I strongly believe that communities are at the center of social impact, not philanthropy. Hence, communities must be involved, supported, and organized to take ownership of the greening programs nationwide.

Your government must also fix the land issues related to land use and land tenure. In many cases, trees are planted on land that is not formally owned or managed, which has led to conflicts with local communities and made it difficult to ensure the long-term survival and growth of the trees. To be successful in addressing the green cover problem in Kenya, it is important to address these underlying issues and ensure that tree planting projects are well-planned, well-supported, and sustainable in the long term.

In this respect, I would like to propose public-private-community partnerships (PPCPs) for tree planting projects as a model for your birthday initiative going forward. PPCPs involve collaboration between government, private businesses, and community organizations to address social and environmental issues. In the context of tree planting, PPCPs can bring together the resources, expertise, and motivation of all three sectors to create sustainable and effective reforestation efforts.

One successful example of a PPCP in Kenya is the "Green Belt Movement," founded by Nobel laureate Wangari Maathai Foundation. #. The organization works with local communities, schools, and businesses to plant and care for trees in areas affected by deforestation. The Green Belt Movement has planted over 51 million trees across Kenya, providing environmental and economic benefits to participating communities.

Another benefit of PPCPs is that they can involve local communities in the decision-making process, ensuring that tree planting projects align with the needs and priorities of the community. This not only leads to better outcomes, but it also empowers communities to take ownership of their environment and become active stakeholders in its protection.

#PPCPs can also leverage the financial and technical resources of private businesses to support tree planting efforts. For example, a company may donate funds or equipment to a tree planting project or offer training and support to community organizations. This not only helps to increase the impact of the project, but it also allows businesses to demonstrate their commitment to environmental sustainability.

In conclusion, as you enjoy your birthday cake and other niceties from the First Lady, please find time to reflect on the PPCPs as a powerful tool for addressing the green cover problem in Kenya. By bringing together the resources and expertise of government, private businesses, and community organizations, PPCPs can create sustainable and effective tree planting projects that benefit both the environment and local communities. Remember, we also need to synergise all sector actions and have a robust monitoring and evaluation (M&E) framwork towards 15 Billion mark which also helps as achieve the #Vision2030 aspirations ( we are 8 years away). This is one area I would like you to win. I wish you a Merry Christmas. 15 billion trees strong #jazamiti