Ruto Adopts New Tradition in Israel After Kenyan Projects Offer 'Mixed Success'

President William Ruto and First Lady Rachel Ruto planting a tree at the Groove of Nations at Jerusalem Forest on May 9, 2023.
President William Ruto and First Lady Rachel Ruto planting a tree at the Groove of Nations at Jerusalem Forest on May 9, 2023.
PCS

President William Ruto on Tuesday, May 10, announced that he would adopt the tradition of praying before tree-planting exercises after mixed results in previous activities.

Speaking during a dinner hosted by Israel's President Isaac Herzog, Ruto indicated that Kenyans had been planting trees before praying to God.

He expressed that the move proved futile owing to mixed results in such activities.

Ruto added that the model of prayer had effectively been used in Israel hence the need to emulate the same in Kenya.

President William Ruto planting a tree at Jerusalem Forest on May 9, 2023.
President William Ruto planting a tree at Jerusalem Forest on May 9, 2023.
PCS

"For the first time, I found out that we had to pray before we plant trees. We have always tried to plant trees in Kenya and our success has been mixed because we did not have the element of prayer.

"Now that we do, I am very confident that we will succeed in our plan to plant 15 billion trees in the next 10 years," he stated.

The President underlined the need to plant trees in efforts to combat climate change which had affected a number of countries in Africa and the rest of the world.

Ruto also shared his personal spiritual experience having planted a tree at the Jerusalem Forest.

"I was honoured to join the list of world leaders who have planted trees at the Grove of Nations at Jerusalem Forest. That event has given me a new meaning for tree planting," he expressed.  

On her part, First Lady Rachel Ruto indicated that she would support the tree-planting initiative by planting 500 million trees.

"Israel which is largely a desert has successfully managed an impressive greening program and has created forests where there were none. This inspires us as Kenyans to restore our ecosystem and grow our tree cover," She stated.

Ruto launched the 15 billion tree plan on December 21, 2022, as he celebrated his birthday.

He indicated that the plan would increase the forest cover in the country under the #JazaMiti campaign.

President William Ruto prays at the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem, Israel on May 9, 2023.
President William Ruto prays at the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem, Israel on May 9, 2023.
Kenyans.co.ke