Nairobi County Governor Johnson Sakaja has allayed concerns that his administration will be spending taxpayers’ money to import trees from Malaysia.
During an inspection tour of Nairobi Central Business District (CBD) on Wednesday, Sakaja announced plans to import indigenous palm trees from the Southeast Asian country to beautify streets in Nairobi.
“We are going to bring fully grown trees. We will get palm trees from Malaysia that will be planted along Harambee Avenue and other areas,” the governor said.
His announcement however attracted criticism from a section of environmental conservationists and Kenyans online.
But Governor Sakaja on Thursday responded to the backlash clarifying that the palm trees will be donated.
He also said he was working with the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) to ensure the county sets up tree nurseries for a tree planting program.
“Don’t be swayed by the sensationalization about trees. We’re engaging KFS, our nursery at City Park as well as local groups whom we shall help establish nurseries for our tree planting program. Indigenous & fruit trees. Za Malaysia etc are donations we will gladly accept,” he tweeted.
