Millions of Kenyans yesterday braved a cold, wet and muddy rainy day to plant trees in their various locations all over the country, after heeding the call by H.E President Ruto and the Ministry of Environment.

In appreciation and awe of the country’s efforts, Hon. Soipan Tuya has issued a thank you statement to all the Kenyans and leaders who showed up to commemorate and make the day the magnificent success it was.

“In one accord as Kenyans, we braved the wet and cold conditions in most parts of the country to come out in our millions yesterday, fronted by our leaders at all levels to grow trees in support for the environment and deep love for our Country, Kenya!

It was a day of deep patriotism that we often display as Kenyans whenever called upon to defy our superficial differences as a people to show up for Country; a true demonstration of the Ubuntu philosophy of, ‘I am because we are’.

As a Ministry, we’re deeply grateful to every mwananchi that heeded Government’s call to grow trees on the ‘Green Holiday’, and encourage everyone to continue growing trees especially during the ongoing short rains season to enable the country meet her 500 million seedlings target by Christmas.

We’re particularly grateful to our country’s top leadership led by H.E President Ruto and H.E Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, and their Spouses, for leading the national tree growing activity at Kiu Wetland in Makindu, Makueni County where we surpassed the 100,000 seedlings target, as well as Cabinet Secretaries, Governors, Principal Secretaries, Regional/County Commissioners, MPs, MCAs, and all State officials who led concurrent tree growing activities in Counties, Sub-Counties and Ward levels across the Country, in  a ‘whole-Government, whole-of-society’ show of solidarity.

Countrywide returns we continue to receive indicate that we surpassed the 150 million target for the day, with Jaza Miti App indicating close to 7,000 new entries. We encourage those that grew trees yesterday but didn’t record on Jaza Miti to do so, so as to enable us keep track of the activity.

Once again, thank you everyone on behalf of grateful and indomitable team at the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry led by Principal Secretaries Mr. Gitonga Mugambi (Forestry) and Eng. Festus Ng’eno (Environment and Climate Change). Asanteni sana