Ruto: Kenya planted 750 million trees last year
President William Ruto plants a tree.
President William Ruto says Kenya planted 750 million trees in 2024 alone and that the country’s green ambition and self-imposed goal of planting 15 billion trees by 2032 is on course.
Addressing foreign envoys and heads of international organisations at State House on Monday, the President called on the international community to join hands in tackling climate change since “climate threats do not recognise borders”.
“I urge nations and world leaders to recognise climate action as an imperative for survival and shared responsibility. Inaction and geopolitical divisions only heighten risks we all face,” he said.
The President did not provide a breakdown of when and where the trees were planted but to plant 750 million trees in 365 days, it means that beginning January 1 to December 31, 2024, Kenyans planted an average of 2,050,000 trees daily, including weekends and public holidays.
Beginning 2023, President Ruto launched an aggressive drive to plant trees across the country in a move that saw Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, then the Interior Cabinet Secretary gazette November 13, as a national tree growing day.
However, come 2024, the Cabinet passed that May 10, will henceforth be a public holiday dubbed as the National Tree Growing Day.
This was followed by a directive by the Interior Ministry last November to all 3,950 chiefs in the country to plant at least 250 trees on the first Friday of every month to help achieve the ambitious goal by 2032.
The chiefs were tasked with mobilising and coordinating the tree planting at the grassroots level as well as monitor and report progress using standardised tools to ensure the trees are well cared for.
As the world approaches COP30, President Ruto called on international partners to honour their climate financing commitments.
“Kenya will continue leading by example, advocating equitable climate financing and ensuring that Africa’s voice remains central in global climate discussions. I urge your support in this endeavour,” he said.
The Commander-in-Chief, being the chairperson of the East African Community, gave a briefing on the state of peace and security in the region that has suffered the brunt of armed conflict resulting in deaths and injuries.
The latest war is currently ongoing in DR Congo where M23 rebels, who according to the UN are being supported by Rwanda Defence Forces, have taken over Goma, the capital of Eastern Congo in a bloodied campaign that has displaced millions, injured thousands and left hundreds dead.
Dr Ruto said that several efforts to restore normalcy in DR Congo had failed majorly due to inconsistent financing leading to delays that create violence and risk further violence.
“To prevent this, we must establish a structured and predictable mechanism for funding peace initiatives. I urge states and international organisations to work together to guarantee adequate resources for effective peacebuilding,” he said.
Nairobi, the Head of State said, is deeply involved in enhancing peace in the region and is not only working with EAC member states alongside the Southern Africa Development Cooperation to restore peace in Congo, but is also in peacebuilding missions in South Sudan and Somalia.
In late January, President Ruto met with Sudan’s Foreign Minister, Ali al-Sadiq Youssif to discuss the crisis in Sudan where millions have been displaced and Khartoum, its capital city currently in the hands of armed rebels. Sudan, Dr Ruto said, will be the next frontier for regional peace efforts.
The diplomats and leaders of the international organisations were also briefed on the Kenya-led Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission in Haiti and urged to lobby their governments to support the mission.
A week ago, the world was taken aback by the decision of the US to freeze the release of their pledge of $13.3 million (Sh1.7billion) meant for supporting the MSS mission in the gang-infested Caribbean nation.
In a quick response, Nairobi downplayed Washington’s move saying the UN Trust Fund that keeps the money meant for the mission has enough funds to sustain the project until September this year.
“I invite the diplomatic community to encourage their governments to join Kenya in these vital humanitarian and multilateral efforts”.
President Ruto also called for urgent reforms in the multilateral institutions, particularly more representation for Africa, which he said represents 28 per cent of the UN’s membership.
He also called for radical reforms regarding international financial institutions- a subject that he has over the past two years spoken of, calling for single-digit loans to African states.
“Africa must have a stronger voice to uphold fairness and equality in global decision making…Kenya supports efforts to reform the global financial architecture, ensuring fair debt restructuring, climate financing and development support,” he said.