PS James Muhati makes remarks on behalf of CS, CPA John Mbadi during tree growing exercise at Wanjohi Block Geta Forest Station in Nyandarua County.

Economic losses from climate change cost Kenya between 3 to 5 percent of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the past decade, National Treasury and Economic Planning Cabinet Secretary CPA Hon John Mbadi has said.

In a speech read on his behalf by Economic Planning Principal Secretary James Muhati during a tree growing exercise in Geta Forest, Wanjohi Block in Nyandarua County, the CS said that the adverse effects have been persistent posing a challenge to budgetary planning and revenue generation.

While terming the scope of the losses as staggering, he noted that the government had taken drastic measures to insulate the economy.

“The country recently witnessed the worst drought in over four decades, resulting in the loss of 2.5 million livestock and affecting the livelihoods of more than 4 million Kenyans. A few months ago, floods also caused widespread havoc across the country, triggering a humanitarian crisis and inflicting substantial economic losses, including severe damage to infrastructure,” said CS Mbadi, adding that the tree planting exercise was in line with President William Ruto’s National Tree Growing and Restoration campaign to increase the country’s tree cover to 30 per cent or 10.6 million hectares.

The Cabinet Secretary noted that Nyandarua County had a tree cover of approximately 27.56 per cent, among the highest in the country, and urged stakeholders to expand it further to surpass the national set target.

The National Treasury and Economic Planning has been undertaking tree planting exercises in the expansive Geta Forest Block. A total of 971,679 trees were planted in the 2023/2024 Financial Year while another 77,483 were planted from June 2024. Some of the institutions represented included Kenya Revenue Authority, County Government of Nyandarua, Team from the County Commissioner’s  office, Nema among others.

Also present were  Economic Planning Secretary Timothy Gakuu, KIPPRA Executive Director Dr. Rose Ngugi, staff from SDEP and SAGA’s under the State Department.