Ruto's diary: Hosting Romania President to gracing UDA MPs wedding

From hosting Romanian President to gracing weddings, President William Ruto had a busy diary this week.

National Tree Planting Day

On Monday, the Head of State presided over the National tree planting day where atleast 150 million trees are said to have been planted across the country.

Ruto who was joined by First lady Rachel Ruto and Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua planted 150,000 seedlings at Kiu Wetland in Makindu, Makueni County.

The cabinet secretaries presided over the same exercise in the other 46 counties.

However, while Ruto was showing off his planting skills there a moment of panic as the President almost slipped while ensuring a seedling was firm in the hole.

His security detail had to respond swiftly to salvage the situation but the President took control of the moment and saved himself from falling.

It is after surviving the fall that he, seemingly in jest, told his security officers not to worry.

"Tulieni... Mimi ni huster," Ruto said sparking laughter among members of the public present.

Hosts Romanian President 

On Tuesday, Ruto hosted Romanian President Klaus Iohannis at State House, Nairobi.

This led to the signing of four major Memorandum of Understanding between the two states.

The centered around Environment and Protection and Climate change,  cooperation in the field of sanitary Veterinary and food safety,  Agricultural Research and Cooperation and  cooperation between the Romanian diplomatic Institutes and the Foreign Service Academy of Kenya.

Bid farewell to Ambassador

On Wednesday, the Head of State bid farewell to Somalia ambassador to Kenya Mohamoud Ahmed Nur

The outgoing envoy is a former Mogadishu Mayor and basketball star.

In June 2022, Nur made headlines when he abruptly stormed out of a diplomatic luncheon hosted by former President Uhuru Kenyatta.

His departure was in protest of the presence of Mohamed Barwaani, a representative from Somaliland.

End-of-year cabinet retreat

On Thursday Kenya Kwanza government Cabinet Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, and Council of Advisors gathered at the Edge Convention Center in South C, Nairobi, for a two-day retreat.

The event dubbed the 'National Executive Pitstop retreat,' was promoted as a chance for the cabinet to reflect on Kenya Kwanza's first year in office.

President Ruto said that the continuous appraisal of the state's work-in-progress will help fix the shortfalls and accelerate our successes.

Police reform report

Still on Thursday, the President received the full report of the National Taskforce on Police Reforms at State House, Nairobi and directed the immediate implementation of its recommendations.

The team led by former Chief Justice David Maraga made several recommendations aimed at enhancing the working conditions of officers in the National Police Service, Prisons Service and the National Youth Service.

"This is a very proud moment for me because we continuously deliver on our commitment. I'm very proud that we are now one step in the right direction," the President said after receiving the report.

Ruto later held a consultative meeting with the World Bank Country Director for Kenya Keith E. Hansen.

National Defence varsity graduation

The National Defence University-Kenya on Friday convened the first graduation ceremony which was graced by President Ruto.

The ceremony will see certificate degrees and award diplomas being conferred in Lanet, Nakuru County. 

Launch of road construction and wedding ceremony.

On Saturday, Ruto was in the Mt Kenya region where he visited two counties.

In the morning hours, the President was in Kirinyaga county where he ommissioned the construction of the 54-Kilometre Sagana-Thiguku, Mururi-Kiumbuini, Kirwara-Kagio and Karaini-Kangaita Roads in Ndia.

He was accompanied by Kirinyaga Governor Ann Waiguru, National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wah among other leaders.

Later in the day, Ruto joined his deputy Rigathi Gachgaua and other political bigwigs in attending the traditional wedding ceremony of two UDA MPs.

Mathira MP  Eric Wamumbi and Murang’a County Woman Representative Betty Maina tied the knot in a traditional Kikuyu ceremony.

On Sunday, the President headed to Bomet county where he attended a church service in Sotik.