Cabinet Secretary for Lands, Housing and Urban Development Alice Wahome has affirmed that she is not resigning from the government as some people have been speculating on social media.

Alice Wahome said her job in the Kenya Kwanza government was secure because she is focused on service delivery to Kenyans and fulfilment of all promises the government promised to Kenyans during the 2022 electioneering period.

“When some people were fired, some people started saying that even Alice Wahome was about to resign, said the cabinet secretary, adding that they are day dreaming because her job was not in danger noting that she cannot resign from a government she gallantly fought for.

There have been rumours that President William Ruto was on the warpath to rid his government of hitherto allies who are sympathetic to impeached former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. The rumours gained ground following the axing of former Public Service cabinet Sectary Justin Muturi.

“Those who left were fired because they were not working but I am working,” noted Wahome adding that productivity is what keeps a person in the job.

The cabinet secretary was speaking on Friday when she led Laikipia people in the monthly tree planting meeting at Mutitu location in the Uaso Narok block of the South Marmanet Forest in Nyahururu sub-county.

Cabinet secretaries have been allocated at least two counties to lead in tree planting in the government’s quest to plant 15 billion trees in the country in the next 10 years where Wahome has been tasked in presiding over planting in Nyeri and Laikipia counties.

She said she defends the President William Ruto because his administration has been able to achieve milestones like ending banditry in Laikipia.

The cabinet secretary urged Laikipia people not to go to next election with “our man in mind” but to look for the person who will work for them while urging them to resist attempts by politicians to put them in campaign mood this early saying that it will disrupt the pace implementing development projects in the country.

The cabinet secretary said she supports re-introduction of the shamba system saying it is the best practice to ensure tree seedlings planted in Laikipia are taken care of so as to increase their survival.

“Introduction of shamba system, where people are allowed to grow crops along tree seedlings in forest land for a given period, will help in tripling the number of trees planted in the County in one year,” added Wahome.

Wahome said she has an agreement with environment cabinet secretary on the introduction of the shamba system in Laikipia but was waiting for an okay from the national conservator.

“Allowing people to grow food crops alongside the trees will enable the people to play a role in planting the 15 billion trees as they also improve and build resilience on their livelihood,” she added.

The cabinet secretary and Laikipia Governor Joshua Irungu urged Kenya Forest Service to make available fruit tree seedlings in the next phase of tree planting.

The cabinet secretary said the fruit tree seedlings will be given to people to go and plant in their homes adding that so far 80,000 trees have been planted in Laikipia since the 15 billion trees program was launched.

Irungu said planting of fruit and coffee trees will help the government achieve its 340 million trees target in Laikipia County in the next 10 years.

• A Tell Media / KNA report / By Kimani Tirus