The Konza Technopolis Development Authority (KoTDA) today carried out a tree planting exercise in support of the National Tree Growing Restoration Campaign that was launched by His Excellency President William Samoei Ruto in December 2022, which calls for an increase in the national tree cover to 30% by 2032. Further, the exercise concerns the presidential directive on 3rd August 2023 to accelerate tree growing in Konza—the workout target to raise one million trees in one year.
To facilitate this, the Konza Masterplan has set aside 1600 acres to be landscaped into public parks, open spaces and green corridors. KoTDA has set aside 50 acres of land to generate 10 million seedlings annually. 250,000 seedlings have been propagated in the bright nursery and are ready for tree planting.
Speaking during the rapid response initiative on tree growing at the Konza Technopolis, Acting CEO John Paul Okwiri said that the organization’s intelligent tree nursery is an innovative operation that the institution had set up to ensure higher quality seedlings to ensure tree survival rate.
National Geographic to premier brand New Episode of Team Sayari this Autumn
“We set up this nursery last year with a target to grow 10 million tree seedlings that are site matched and suitable for the arid and semi-arid climates,”
Said Okwiri.
It includes an intelligent tree management technology for Konza Technopolis, which will be able to track various characteristics of the trees, such as the air quality, sunlight level, sound pollution level, and other essential attributes for efficient city planning, afforestation plans, and higher quality of life.
He added that the Authority runs the program ahead of this year’s Africa Climate Change Week and the Africa Climate Summit scheduled in Nairobi during the first week of September 2023.
In the past year, KoTDA has grown 30,000 trees and 200,000 shrubs in some sections of the smart city and donated 100,000 seedlings to the community. The Authority is also working with Ministries, Departments, and Agencies to plan, grow and nurture at least thirty trees per year per staff in line with the 20th cycle of the Performance Contracting 2023-2024.
“We are inviting all private sector organizations to join us in growing trees at Konza Technopolis to establish a smart green city,”
Noted Okwiri.
Other partners who participated in the event included the Global Peace Foundation, the World Bank and the Rotary Club of Nairobi, the Chyullu Development Fund, the University of Nairobi and.
