Gov’t sets targets for adults, children for National Tree Growing Day

Environment, Climate Change, and Forestry Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya has announced ambitious targets for National Tree Growing Day.

The CS encouraged all Kenyans to participate in the initiative to honor those who lost their lives during the recent heavy rains and flooding.

CS Tuya's set target

The National Tree Growing Day, set for May 10, 2024, will see the launch of an extensive tree-planting program with the goal of planting at least 200 million trees.

Cabinet Secretary Tuya has set a target for each adult to plant at least 50 trees and each child to plant at least 10 trees, with a long-term goal of reaching 1 billion trees across the country.

"Tomorrow, Friday, 10th May 2024 is our country's second National Tree Growing Day and the climax of this year's long rains season. We encourage all Kenyans to come out in large numbers to grow trees in honor of the compatriots we've lost to floods," the CS said in a statement on her X account.

"The day's target is for each adult and each child in Kenya to grow at least 50 and 10 trees respectively. With this, we can easily hit a 1 billion tree mark!," she added.

Tuya also quoted the late Nobel Laureate and conservationist Prof. Wangari Maathai, saying: "Until you dig a hole, plant a tree, water it, and make it survive, you haven't done a thing. You are just talking! Let's walk the talk. For posterity."

The event has been gazetted as a public holiday by Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki, following a declaration by President William Ruto on May 8, 2024.

The declaration was made during a meeting with grassroots leaders from Laikipia North and Kajiado Central at State House, where Ruto emphasized the need to honor flood victims and focus on environmental conservation.

Extensive tree-planting

In that regard, CS Kindiki moved with speed to declare May 10 as a national holiday. The President said an extensive tree-planting programme will be launched to conserve and restore the environment and begin to reverse the challenges of climate change during the new holiday.

According to the president, the plan is to plant 200 million trees on May 10, and he urged each Kenyan to plant at least 50 trees.