Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko on Saturday interrupted Deputy President William Ruto's speech during the National Tree Planting Day at Moi Forces Academy, emphasising that protocol should be followed.
The DP was just about to give his address when Sonko stood up and demanded respect saying leaders should not undermine him.
"I think the State House programme is very clear. After the National Anthem, the governor of Nairobi is supposed to speak. I was supposed to invite Environment CS Keriako Tobiko who would then invite the DP.
"Leaders should stop undermining me. We all serve the same government. The county government of Nairobi has not been disbanded.
"A little respect will not harm anyone," he remarked.
[caption caption="President Uhuru Kenyatta and DP William Ruto Engaging in a Clean Up Exercise"]
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This after Tobiko invited the DP to give his speech immediately after him, much to the dismay of Sonko.
The governor went ahead to assure President Uhuru Kenyatta, who was in attendance, that his government would never undermine his plans as he (Kenyatta) is in charge of the entire country.
"We love you and we respect you. Do not mind the perception that has been created out there," he stated.
The national event, whose theme is ‘Panda Miti, Penda Kenya’, was graced by several leaders including First Lady Margaret Kenyatta.
The President urged members of the public, corporates and other groups to heed the appeal by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry by planting trees as well as donating trees to Kenya Forest Service (KFS) or county governments.
This is in line with government plans to increase the forest cover in the country to 10 percent before 2022.
According to the 2015 National Forest Policy, the current forest cover in Kenya is 6.99 percent, which is below the requirement of 10 percent.
Here is the video courtesy of KTN:
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