Ruto’s Tree Planting Drive Demonstrates His Commitment To Mitigate Effects Of Climate Change
The Mt Kenya Times 
President William Ruto’s Tree Planting Drive
By: Joseph Mutua Ndonga
Worth Noting:
- The resolutions will formally be presented before the Conference of State Parties, COP28, which will be held in United Arab Emirates (UAE). Kenya has since made great strides in moving towards clean renewable energy.
- In the previous COP meetings that brought together world leaders, President Ruto would always speak on behalf of Africa. He would be chosen because of his deep understanding and grasp of issues related to climate change. Besides he is bold, candid and courageous.
- In his presentations, he would mince no word in taking on powerful nations for being biggest polluters of the climate.
- Your actions have over the years caused untold suffering and pain to our people. They poses real threat to the livelihoods and existence of humankind.
Today, November 13, 2023, is a public holiday and the day is dedicated for tree planting drive. Kenyans in all parts of the country will be expected to take part in this noble course.
This is the first time in the history of independent Kenya that the government of Kenya has shown a total commitment to matters of environmental conservation.
Tree planting is one of the key interventions towards mitigating disastrous impact of climate change ravaging the whole world.
President William Ruto is expected to lead the nation in marking this day by planting tree seedlings in Makueni County tomorrow.
It is worth noting the President started this campaign of greening Kenya a year ago when he planted a number of tree seedlings in Ngong forest.
President Ruto has emerged as a key player in these endeavours not only in Africa but globally.
He recently organized the first ever Africa Climate Summit that was held in Kenya’s capital city of Nairobi.
In their final communique, the Africa heads of states adopted a Nairobi declaration.
Going forward, the declaration will inform Africa’s position on climate change globally.
The resolutions will formally be presented before the Conference of State Parties, COP28, which will be held in United Arab Emirates (UAE). Kenya has since made great strides in moving towards clean renewable energy.
In the previous COP meetings that brought together world leaders, President Ruto would always speak on behalf of Africa. He would be chosen because of his deep understanding and grasp of issues related to climate change. Besides he is bold, candid and courageous.
In his presentations, he would mince no word in taking on powerful nations for being biggest polluters of the climate.
Your actions have over the years caused untold suffering and pain to our people. They poses real threat to the livelihoods and existence of humankind.
Hundreds of thousands of the people have lost their lives and properties have been destroyed.
As leaders, we have a duty to save our people from extinction.
We have previously passed numerous resolutions but you have been turning deaf ear to them.
A time has come to start implementing them.
Planting of the trees and phasing out of fossil fuels are some of the key interventions.
In Kenya, we are taking this matter seriously because we value sanctity of human life.
Dr Ruto would not leave it there. He would tell the leaders of the powerful nations in Europe and Asia.
Africa is not responding to the pressure from you.
We are doing this because it is the right thing to do. We also want to see you doing your part.
Bearing in mind that you are the biggest polluters, Africa has a right to demand compensations and reparations from you.
On this issue, you have only been making pledges. For now, we want to see you walking the talk.
Reacting to this, the leaders of superpowers would not feel offended. We have listened keenly to President William Ruto’s presentation. He has articulated the position of Africa very well.
We agree that we have not been taking matters of climate change seriously. We are now going to implement resolutions and keep our word on compensation.
Back home, President William Ruto is not leaving anything to chance in terms of ensuring that his administration met the target of planting 15 billion tree seedlings by the 2032.
Top government officials and local chiefs have been boosting his efforts by presiding tree planting activities in all parts of the country.
The gazettement of November 13 cleared the way for this day to be marked as a national holiday of tree planting every year.
As Dr Ruto plant the trees in Makueni tomorrow, this excercise will take place simultaneously in all parts of the country.
Cabinet secretaries (CSs), Principal Secretaries (PSs), County commissioners are among state officers who will preside over these activities.
This will be a well calculated move designed to mobilize many people at grassroots to turn up.
Some of them will come to see their leaders. Apart from learning some lessons about the importance of planting trees, they will not leave before planting seedlings.
Dr Ruto is a hard working and hands-on President. So I have no reason to doubt him. He will ensure his administration has met the target.
During the reigns of the previous governments, forest cover had dropped drastically due to destruction of forests. Dr Ruto is out to correct these wrongs. Let us support him.
Joseph Mutua Ndonga is a writer and political analyst based in Nairobi
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