By Sharon Mwaniki
President Ruto has declared Friday, May 10 a public holiday to mark National Tree Growing Day and to honour Kenyans who lost their lives as a result of floods.
The President said that an extensive tree-planting programme will be launched to conserve and restore the environment and begin to reverse the challenges of climate change.
“On this day, we will plant trees and remind ourselves that the solution to climate change is taking care of our environment,” said the President.
The head of state, made this announcement while meeting leaders from Kajiado County at State House, Nairobi.
President Ruto mentioned that the holiday would commemorate Kenyans affected by floods which will be marked by planting trees.
He urged every Kenyan to plant at least 50 trees to reach the goal of 200 million trees to mitigate climate change and prevent drought and floods.
On the destruction of infrastructure by flooding, President Ruto stated that the government will work with development partners to repair damaged roads.
The interior cabinet secretary, Kithure Kindiki, has gazetted 10th May as a public holiday.
“In exercise of the powers conferred by section 3 of the Public Holidays Act, I declare Friday, 10th May 2024, a Public Holiday for purposes of countrywide tree growing activities,” declared the interior CS.
According to the CS, the impacts of climate change present a significant risk to the security of our nation, the safety of our citizens, and the sustainability of Kenya’s ecosystems.
“We stand in solidarity with all those who have been negatively impacted by the recurring floods and subsequent droughts in recent years,” said the CS.
“It is important to recognize that the cultivation of trees is the ultimate long-term remedy to address the climate crisis and mitigate its destructive consequences on both human existence and livelihoods,” he further added.