As Kenyans from various parts of the country took part in planting of trees, a man from Turkana County celebrated a remarkable achievement from the last tree planting holiday.
The country on Friday, March 10, 2024, led by President William Ruto marked the National Tree Planting Day by planting trees.
For the man who faced criticism during the last tree-planting holiday in November 2023 from a section of Kenyans for planting trees in a dry area, it was a special day for him as he shared the fruits of his labor.
The trolls faced by Timothy Kipruto seem not to have diminished his ambitions as he shared how the trees planted back in 2023 have since grown.
Proud of his work, Kipruto shared photos of the progress during this year’s tree-planting day which was met with a lot of praise.
“As a day of Tree planting, today I visited the site we planted trees last year. For the doubting Thomases, behind me is the progress of the trees,” posted Kipruto.
State House Director of Public Communications Gerald Bitok also shared the photo noting that back in November, he asked Kenyans to send him pictures planting trees.
Turkana Man mocked
It is from the request that the man from Turkana sent him the photos of him planting a tree which upon posting, received a backlash from Kenyans.
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According to Bitok, some even went to the extent of insulting him and calling him a fool for planting trees in an arid area.
“On November 13th last year during the National Tree planting day, I asked Kenyans to send me pictures planting trees. One of them was this gentleman Timothy Ole-Chesiny Kipruto from Turkana County. Typical Kenyans trolled and insulted him. Even called him a fool,” said Bitok.
Bitok went on to share the photo of the progress of the trees 8 months later, adding that he will organize for the man to visit State House and plant a tree.
The photos further caught the attention of Environment Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya who congratulated Kipruto saying that she celebrates him and other Kenyans of his kind.
“Indeed, they say not all heroes wear caps. On such a day, it is heartwarming to see ordinary Kenyans doing super extraordinary acts. Environmental Champions are the heroes of the future, and you too can be one,” said Tuya.
Ruto leads tree-planting exercise
The tree planting day was in a gazette notice by Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki declared a public holiday for purposes of countrywide tree growing activities
According to Kindiki, the day was declared a holiday in solidarity with all persons adversely affected by cyclic floods and subsequent droughts in recent times.
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Also, the day was set aside for Kenyans to plant trees with CS Kindiki noting that the effects of climate change pose an existential threat to national security, public safety and the ecological sustainability of Kenya.
President Ruto on Friday led a tree-planting exercise in Kiambicho Forest in Maragùa, Mùrang’a County.
Ruto said that planting and growing trees is the solution that will help mitigate the effects of climate change, which include devastating droughts and destructive floods.
The Head of State said that the government set a target for Kenyans to plant 200 million trees across the country.
President Ruto announced that the exercise will continue for the next six months beginning on Monday, May 13,2024, adding that Cabinet Secretaries would be at the forefront.
Every ministry, he said, will have a day in which staff of various departments and agencies will plant trees in the specific areas they have been assigned.
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