Following the official gazettement of National Tree Planting Day on November 13, 2023, the government has pledged to offer free trees to every Kenyan who is willing to live up to the celebrations.
The government targets to grow 100 million seedlings countrywide in the Monday exercise, and it thus seeks the aid of Kenyans to attain its target.
Raymond Omollo, Interior Principal Secretary, urged each Kenyan to pick the free trees from the nearest chief’s office and plant at their area of choice.
“Members of the public are advised to visit their nearest chief's office for tree seedlings and liaise with the area assistant county commissioner and deputy county commissioner in respective counties,” stated PS Omollo.
Environment Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya added that selected community tree nurseries, two in every county, will provide trees at a small fee. Some private institutions further offered to donate trees to the government.
"Additionally, there are millions of seedlings in private nurseries, run by women and youth groups in Community Forest Associations and community-based organizations across the country, available at a fee. I would like to urge fellow citizens that in the true Kenyan spirit, let us buy a seedling or two from these community-run nurseries and plant in our shambas," the CS stated.
"I know being a public holiday, many of us will take advantage of the break to attend to other private and social obligations, but for the sake of the wellbeing of our environment and for mother nature, and as a call to national duty, I urge all of us to honour the National Tree Growing Day. If each of us planted at least two seedlings on Monday, we will instantly hit the campaign target for the day of 100 Million seedlings," CS Tuya added.
PS Omollo and CS Tuya further encouraged Kenyans to take pictures and document the event, then upload them on the Jazamiti Application, a mobile application set to monitor and track the tree planting day.
This is the first time Kenya is set to mark a national tree planting day as a holiday. President Ruto will launch the holiday at Kiu Wetland in Makueni County upon returning from an official Saudi Arabia tour.
Thereafter, every Cabinet Secretary will also launch the tree planting exercise in at least two counties as directed by the Environment CS Soipan Tuya.
It is yet to be clear whether the holiday will be marked annually or if it will be honoured as a one-time event.
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