• The announcement, made through a notice by the Ministry of Interior on May 8, aims to foster solidarity with those affected by recurrent floods and droughts in recent years.

In a move to pay tribute to the victims of devastating floods and address the urgent need for environmental conservation, President William Ruto has declared Friday, May 10, 2024, a public holiday.

The announcement, made through a notice by the Ministry of Interior on May 8, aims to foster solidarity with those affected by recurrent floods and droughts in recent years.

The designated public holiday will be dedicated to planting trees as a long-term solution to the climate crisis and its adverse impacts on lives and livelihoods. The government's statement emphasized the crucial role of tree growing in mitigating climate change and its destructive consequences.

"Tree growing is the singular long-term solution to the climate crisis and its devastating effects on life and livelihoods," the statement read in part.

President Ruto expressed the government's commitment to tackling the climate crisis by announcing an ambitious target of planting 200 million trees on the designated day. He urged every Kenyan citizen to contribute to this initiative by planting at least 50 trees individually.

The president emphasized that tree planting is a vital step towards preserving and restoring the environmentat the same time addressing the challenges posed by climate change.

"On this day, we will plant trees and remind ourselves that the solution to climate change lies in taking care of our environment," President Ruto stated.