The government on Wednesday declared Friday, May 10, a public holiday to commemorate National Tree Planting Day in memory of Kenyans who died in the nationwide floods.
In a gazette notice dated May 8, Interior Cabinet Secretary Prof. Kithure Kindiki said the public holiday is aimed at showing solidarity with people adversely affected by cyclic floods and droughts in recent times.
“Acknowledging that tree growing is the singular long-term solution to the climate crisis and its devastating effects on life and livelihoods;
“Now therefore, in the exercise of the powers conferred by section 3 of the Public Holidays Act, the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration, declares Friday, May 1oth a public holiday for purposes of countrywide tree growing activities,” Kindiki said.
President William Ruto earlier announced the gazettement at State House-Nairobi during a meeting with grassroots leaders from Kajiado Central and Laikipia North.
State House said the President announced that on the same day, 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,” Ruto said.
The President announced that the plan is to plant 200 million trees on the day and urged each Kenyan to plant at least 50 trees.
On the destruction of infrastructure by flooding, the President said that the government will work with development partners to repair damaged roads.
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