First Lady Rachel Ruto on Wednesday, May 10, announced that she would help combat the adverse effects of climate change by creating a forest in Machakos.
Speaking in Jerusalem, Israel the First Lady announced that the project would be done through a collaboration between Israel Embassy in Kenya and her foundation Mama Doing Good.
To make the project successful, Rachel Ruto picked lessons from Jerusalem on seed development, preservation, tree nursery, and seedling nurturing.
“Climate change is a present reality affecting our lives and livelihoods, and it will only worsen if we don’t act.
“I am excited about the upcoming partnership between Mama Doing Good and KKL-JNF to establish the 'Zion' forest in Machakos,” she stated.
She added that the forest would be known as Zion Forest and would be part of the Environment and Climate Action Initiative.
The First Lady noted that KKL-JNF promotes sustainable development and environmental conservation in Israel and beyond, and would guide the establishment of the new forest.
Climate change dominated President William Ruto and Rachel’s trip to Israel with the Head of State promising to plant more trees.
During a dinner hosted by Israel's President Isaac Herzog on Tuesday, May 10, Ruto stated that the country was poised to plant 15 billion trees in 10 years.
Additionally, Ruto revealed that there would be a praying session before planting the trees.
"I was pleased to learn this afternoon that is not only a good thing to protect our environment but is also biblical.
"And it is also spiritual. I understand here because, for the first time, I found that we have to pray before we plant trees,” the President stated.
Ruto launched the tree planting exercise on December 22, 2022, in an effort to reduce greenhouse emissions and mitigate adverse effects of deforestation.
In March 2023, Rachel Ruto announced that she would adopt 200 hectares in the Kakamega forest for re-afforestation in support of the program.
