Ruto, environmental stakeholders hold talks on tree planting

President William Ruto on Monday met stakeholders in the environment sector at the State House, Nairobi.

They came to an agreement on accelerating the tree-growing plan in the country.

This is part of the effort to mitigate the negative effects of climate change that include the current drought in Kenya.

The country envisions achieving a 30 per cent tree cover by 2032.

Kenya will be seeking to demonstrate its leadership in the area of climate change and seek partners in forest restoration during the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) in Egypt.

The conference is set to start on November 6 and be concluded on November 18 at Sharm El Sheikh.

Ruto is the current chair of the committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change.

On Saturday while commissioning the Thiba Dam, Ruto said his administration will be on the frontline in a tree-planting campaign.

"Water increment goes hand-in-hand with conserving the environment. As a government we purpose to plant five billion trees in a bid to combat climate change," he said.

He urged Kenyans to plant trees as a way of combating the climate change crisis.

"Every Kenyan, 50 million of us, must plant at least 100 trees, either in your compound, in your farm or in any other place you find," he said.

"It is the surest way for us to turn around the climate so that we can have water, grow crops and make sure we have prosperity."

He urged all persons, adults and children alike to purpose to grow at least 100 trees per head.