Kenya plant trees to mark Africa Public Service day

Africa Public Service Day is an important date in the calendar of African public servants, public service employees and public administration throughout the continent. It is celebrated annually under the African Union as Africa Public Service Day to recognize the value and virtue of service to the community.

This year the Africa Public Service Day was commemorated through tree planting by members of the public service as a whole.

The tree planting exercise was conducted at Ngong’ Hills Forest station in Kajiado County where a total of 5000 indigenous tree seedlings were planted led by the Cabinet Secretary Ministry of Environment and Forestry Keriako Tobiko and his Public Service counterpart Prof. Margaret Kobia.

The exercise was graced by the Deputy Head of Public Service Wanyama Musiambo, CAS Public Service Rachel Shebesh, Principal Secretary Ministry of Environment and Forestry Chris Kiptoo among other Principal Secretaries and Heads of Departments.

The speech by President Uhuru Kenyatta was read by CS Margaret Kobia where the President noted, "This year's celebration is being held in the midst of the global COVID 19 pandemic. Despite the disruption and challenges caused by the pandemic to our nation, we must remain focused on reforming and transforming our public service for optimum service delivery to our citizens."

Tobiko urged all public service officers to take part and stand out in conservation efforts across the country to ensure a better environment for the future of our country. He reminded the public of the Late Prof. Wangari Maathai's words of the need to take care of our environment before it punishes us. He urged Kenyans as individuals to stand up and be counted during the journey to attain a 10 per cent tree cover for Kenya.

The Chief Conservator of Forests Julius Kamau who received the Government delegation commended the serious work that the Public Service sector has been doing in the line of forest conservation.

He appreciated the diligence shown by the Ministry of Public Service in supporting the rehabilitation of Ngong Hills over the past tree planting seasons and encouraged other stakeholders to do the same for the various green spaces in the country.

The CCF reiterated that achieving 10 per cent tree cover for Kenya would be hastened by this kind of cooperation with everyone on board to contribute to the rehabilitation agenda.

KFS officers, other local administration and disciplined service officers, and members of the surrounding communities neighboring the forest also took part in the exercise adhering to the Ministry of Health regulations on combating the spread of COVID 19.