President William Ruto has instructed the Ministry of Environment and Forestry to look into the ongoing uprooting of Baobab trees in Kilifi County. On his twitter handle Monday, the president said, “I have instructed the Ministry of Environment and Forestry to look into the ongoing uprooting of Baobab trees in Kilifi County to ensure that it sits within the Convention on Biodiversity and the Nagoya Protocol. There must be adequate authorization and an equitable benefit-sharing formula for Kenyans. Further, the exercise must be in line with the Government’s agenda of planting 15 billion trees in the next 10 years.” The orders came in the wake of environmentalists condemning the massive export of the baobab tree to Georgia. @lizwathuti: Kilifi is already worst hit by drought. Mr President @WilliamsRuto , Instead of uprooting & exporting Baobabs to Georgia, the value addition of Baobab powder & shared tourism benefits would generate income for local communities protecting these indigenous trees. People & Planet. @mohammedhersi:  Your excellency @WilliamsRuto While you making calls that we plant trees , for a paltry $1000 land owners in Kilifi are selling their God given treasure. Sabotage and bad publicity? Firm gets greenlight to uproot and export Kilifi baobab to Georgia. @wamuathe: Uprooting of baobab trees in Kilifi County for export to Georgia by Ariba Sea Weed is unacceptable plunder of our resources. Stop It! On social media, many have come out to congratulate the president for the move. @paulakahumbu :  This is great news. Let it be a reminder to all to be vigilant stewards of nature, and a warning to those set on plundering the biodiversity and culture of our beloved nation. @smutoro:  I am glad that President @WilliamsRuto has personally addressed the issue of Baobab trees. @Environment_Ke CS @HonTuya has to pull up her socks and show some enthusiasm on protection of our environment. Nature, as Wangari Maathai said, is unforgiving once damaged.  @pingache:  This is a great directive president Ruto. These baobab trees take decades to be the size they are and nobody should be selling them for cheap.