Friday May 10th has been set aside as a public holiday in Kenya to remember Kenyans who have died from floods.
Kenyans are encouraged to pay homage to their fallen compatriots by planting at least 50 trees each to complement the government’s efforts to increase national forest cover by 2032.
Following heavy rains that have caused mass destruction and loss of dozens of lives, the government acknowledges the importance of trees in the ecosystem.
A tree growing schedule has been released for the national exercise to be led by top government officials. The target is to 50,000,000 seedlings
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi will preside over the exercise in the counties of Tharaka Nithi and Kirinyaga. Attorney General Justin Muturi will be in Bomet at the Ndoinet forest.
Chief of Staff Felix Koskei is expected in the County of Bomet while Environment Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya will preside over the exercise in the counties of Vihiga and Samburu.
Information, Communication and the Digital Economy Cabinet Secretary Eliud Owalo is expected in Nandi and Kisii counties.
His colleagues Kipchumba Murkomen and Davis Chirchir will lead tree planting in the Counties of Mombasa and Homa Bay and Baringo and Kericho respectively.
The day has also been set aside to remember those who lost their lives in floods occasioned by heavy rains that hit most parts of the country.
According to the government over 200 people lost their lives, more than 180 persons injured while at least 293,000 have been affected with over 54,000 households displaced.
The government announced a mandatory eviction near 178 dams last week with motorists were urged to exercise caution as they used the road.
Yusuf Farah
