By Michelle Ndaga
The Kenya Forest Service (KFS), in collaboration with the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), has officially launched a model tree nursery in Ngong Road Forest, Nairobi County, as part of efforts to achieve the government’s ambitious target of growing 15 billion trees by 2032.
Speaking during the commissioning, KFS Board Chairman Titus Korir called on citizens, private companies, and public agencies to take an active role in tree growing. He emphasized that achieving the 15-billion-tree goal will require collective action and innovative, climate-smart solutions.
Dr. Clement Ngoriareng, who delivered remarks on behalf of the Chief Conservator of Forests, said the partnership reflects a shared vision for sustainability, noting that road infrastructure expansion must go hand-in-hand with environmental restoration.
The Ngong Road nursery is projected to supply one million seedlings annually and has already produced 194,000 seedlings, including both indigenous and exotic species. Beyond production, the nursery will also serve as a training hub for best practices in tree seedling propagation.
KeNHA Board Chairperson Winfrida Ngumi stated that the agency has integrated sustainable practices into its operations to offset emissions from construction machinery and mitigate the environmental impact of road projects. She added that KeNHA will not only replace trees felled during construction but also rehabilitate degraded forests nationwide.
In the 2024/2025 financial year, KeNHA planted 279,227 trees across its road network. Officials said the new partnership will serve as a model for other government agencies by demonstrating that infrastructure development can coexist with environmental conservation.
The event was attended by KeNHA Acting Director General Eng. Luka Kimeli, KFS Commandant Mohammed A. Mohammed, senior management teams, and members of the Ngong Road Community Forest Association.
