Nairobi — An international environmental group has donated 10,000 seedlings to the Agriculture Society of Kenya to support afforestation programmes.

ASK national chairman Timothy Omato said the donation, from GreenPLanet Group, would help its 15 branches, including Nairobi.

Mr Omato thanked GreenPLanet national chairman Rino Solberg for the gift, saying the timing was good considering the raging famine and drought.

He said: "Today's event does, indeed, set the pace for similar things we intend to do in various ASK branches this year. We request GreenPLanet to donate seedlings to our other 14 branches."

Mr Omato was speaking at the Jamhuri showground, Nairobi, where he received the seedlings from Mr Solberg and other GreenPLanet officials.

Also present was Agriculture secretary Wilson Songa, who represented Agriculture minister Kipruto arap Kirwa.

"We need all the help we can to increase our forest cover in the country, which currently stands at 1.7 per cent, in a country where only 20 per cent of the land is arable," he said.

Mr Omato thanked the ministry for donating 1,000 seedlings to the ASK last year.