His Excellency President William Ruto led the country in marking the national tree growing day that was gazetted to commemorate the victims of flooding and fight against the effects of climate change that are causing extreme weather conditions. The event that took place at Kiambicho Forest Station saw the growing of over 25,000 seedlings with a target of growing 200 million seedlings across the country in an exercise spearheaded by Cabinet Secretaries and other senior government officials.
During the event at Kiambicho, the President led the people in observing a minute of silence in memory of the over 250 people who have lost their lives through the recent unprecedented floods. The President told the people that tree growing was the most viable way of mitigating against adverse effects of climate change and urged Kenyans to fully embrace and participate in the National Landscape and Ecosystem Restoration campaign that seeks to increase the country’s tree cover to at least 30% by the year 2032.
He encouraged every Kenyan to play their part by growing at least 50 trees every year in order for the country to attain and surpus the 15 billion target in the next ten years in order to secure the country from the effects of climate change. The President announced that every ministry will carry out tree growing activities for the next six months.
Speaking at the same event, the Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Forestry Hon. Soipan Tuya said that the government had decided to take the whole government and whole society approach because of the urgency required to slow down global warming and manage climate change.
The CS made a commitment to purchase 10,000 fruit seedlings from private nurseries. The seedlings will be distributed to farmers under the agroforestry programme to enhance food security.
Other leaders present during the event included Her Excellency the First Lady Mama Rachel Ruto, Governor of Murang’a Hon. Irungu Kanga’ta, the Senator Hon. Joe Nyutu, the MP for Maragua Hon. Mary Wa Maua, KFS Chair Titus Korir, and the Chief Conservator of Forests Mr. Alex Lemarkoko among other leaders.
