President William Ruto will plant 47 million trees after losing the World Cup bet to First Lady Rachel Ruto.
President Ruto while speaking during the launch of the National Programme for accelerated forestry and rangelands restoration said he might be looking okay but has been struggling to pay the bet to Rachel and the children.
"As you know, I took the unprecedented step, in the heat of the moment, and placed a bet with a close relative and friend. I lost the bet. Even though I look okay, deep down, I have been struggling to pay," he said.
"After intense negotiation, the First Lady agreed to commute the payment to a personal undertaking on my part to plant 47 million trees over the next month. This is supplementary to the effort we are launching today."
The Head of State said he has accepted the terms and will be planting a million trees in every county, starting this Christmas.
He asked his friends to give him a helping hand as he embarks on paying the bet through tree planting.
"I will be calling on my friends of all ages and walks of life to come to my rescue and chip into this effort," he said.
He, however, urged young people to give betting a break and focus on the opportunities in the programme and in the rest of the government’s Bottom Up agenda for economic transformation.
"Be part of our national green league."
Ruto after losing the bet on December 18, said he will use the proceeds from his chicken business to settle it.
Whereas Ruto was supporting France which he termed the ‘African team’ in Sunday’s World Cup finals, his wife together with their children were behind Argentina.
Argentina lifted the World Cup trophy after a penalty shootout that they won by four goals to two.
“Wale kuku zangu wataniokoa nilipe,” Ruto jokingly said.
"Hustler Fund wamenikataza siwezi lipa bet nayo wanasema pesa ni ya hustle."
They had not, however, stated the prize or amount the loser would pay.
Ruto even went ahead to stir Kenyans saying his stay was no longer tenable as the wife and the kids were giving him pressure to honour the ‘bet’.
“Kwangu hakukaliki. Lady #1 na watoi ni pressure,” he said.
After the match, Rachel congratulated her team while asking Ruto to pay the bill.
