Outgoing Cabinet Secretary for Health, Dr. Deborah Barasa—now serving as the Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Forestry—today led a tree planting exercise in Lelan, West Pokot, marking her first official engagement in the new docket.
Dr. Barasa thanked President William Ruto for the trust placed in her through the new appointment, pledging to champion the government’s ambitious target of planting 15 billion trees by 2032.
Addressing local leaders and residents, she described the exercise as “a bold declaration of hope,” emphasizing the critical role of tree planting in tackling climate change, restoring degraded lands, and securing a sustainable future for generations to come.
Highlighting the environmental challenges faced in the region—including prolonged droughts and erratic rainfall—Dr. Barasa urged communities to move from simply planting trees to growing them.
She encouraged households, schools, and farmers to take ownership of tree care and challenged the youth and local leaders to drive conservation initiatives.
She also acknowledged the ongoing efforts of local environmental champions and groups working to restore ecosystems, affirming the Ministry’s support for grassroots-led climate action.
