The Deputy Chief Conservator of Forests, Partnerships and Resource Mobilization, and Manager National Tree Growing and Restoration Project Mr. Noor Hussein, led a team in handing over borehole drilling sites in Kwale, Kilifi, Tana River, and Lamu counties. This is part of ongoing efforts of drilling 12 boreholes under the National Tree Growing and Restoration Programme of strengthening water access for tree growing and forest restoration initiatives.
In Kwale County, the team visited the office of the County Forest Conservator in Shimba Hills National Reserve, where a borehole is being established to support a tree nursery with a combined production capacity of 10 million seedlings across the county. Mr. Noor also visited Gede Forest Station within the Arabuko-Sokoke Forest in Kilifi County to assess the progress and implementation of the borehole project. In Tana River County, the visit included the County Forest Conservator’s office, where a borehole will support a nursery with a production capacity of 15 million seedlings.
The team further visited the office of the County Forest Conservator in Mukowe, Lamu County, to assess the site earmarked for the borehole project. The 12 boreholes distributed across the various counties under the National Tree Growing and Restoration Programme are in intended to enhance reliable water supply to forest nurseries, ensuring consistent seedling production to support Kenya’s 15 Billion Trees Campaign and the national target of achieving 30% tree cover by 2032. In addition to supporting tree growing and restoration activities, the boreholes will also improve water access for surrounding local communities, contributing to their livelihoods and resilience.
The site visits were attended by the borehole implementation unit from KFS Comprising of the Chief Administrative Officer Ms. Judy Wata, Kennedy Mbeva, Brenda Amanaka, Ruth Wairimu and the respective County Forest Conservators (CFC), including Mr. Tysuma Silas of Kwale, Ruwa Kalama of Kilifi, Dominic Musangu of Tana River, and Samuel Lodiro of Lamu.
