Defence Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has emphasized that climate change poses a significant threat to Kenya’s national security. Speaking on Wednesday in Machakos County, CS Tuya highlighted the government’s commitment to combating this “invisible adversary” through large-scale tree planting initiatives.
Addressing Ministry of Defence (MOD) staff during a tree-planting exercise at Konza Technopolis, CS Tuya underscored the urgency of mitigating environmental degradation. She led the team in planting 15,000 trees at a site designated for the Kenya Air Force (KAF), bringing the total number of trees planted by KAF on the 17-acre parcel to 35,000.
“It is an honour to join you today as we advance our shared mission in the battle against climate change – an invisible adversary that continues to threaten our environment, economy, and national security. Through the simple yet transformative act of planting trees, we reaffirm our unwavering commitment to this critical fight,” CS Tuya stated.
The MOD has been assigned a crucial role in the government’s broader 10-year National Landscape and Ecosystem Restoration Campaign. Under this initiative, the Ministry has been tasked with propagating 800 million seedlings and planting 500 million trees, contributing approximately 3% to the national goal of growing 15 billion trees over the next decade.
CS Tuya reiterated that the restoration campaign is championed by President William Ruto, who has been at the forefront of Kenya’s efforts to address climate change. She emphasized that the Defence Ministry is committed to its responsibility in environmental conservation as part of national security.
“Under the National Landscape and Ecosystem Restoration Campaign, championed by our Commander-in-Chief, the Ministry of Defence has been entrusted with producing 800 million tree seedlings over the next decade. Our specific mandate is to grow 500 million trees, contributing approximately 3% of the national target,” she added.
The tree-planting exercise in Konza Technopolis aligns with Kenya’s broader reforestation and environmental sustainability strategy. By engaging security agencies in conservation efforts, the government is reinforcing the link between environmental stability and national security.
As climate change continues to impact various sectors, the Defence Ministry’s involvement highlights the importance of integrating sustainability measures within national security frameworks.
