Gov't declares November 13 a public holiday for Kenyans to plant trees

In a gazette notice dated November 6, Prof Kindiki said President William Ruto will lead the country in the tree-growing exercise in line with his administration's ambitious plan of growing 10 billion trees by 2032.

"In exercise of the powers conferred by section 3 of the Public Holidays Act, the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration declares Monday, 13th November, 2023, a public holiday in which the public shall be engaged in tree growing countrywide," reads the notice in part.

"The exercise is part of Kenya’s Landscape and Ecosystem Restoration Programme–Towards the Growing of Fifteen (15) billion trees. There will be a designated National venue for the tree planting presided over by His Excellency (Dr.) William Samoei Ruto."

The tree planting exercise will also be marked across the 47 counties presided over by  Cabinet Secretaries and Governors, where all Kenyan citizens and the general public shall be expected to participate.

The move to declare November 13 a public holiday follows the decision of the Cabinet sitting in Mombasa on Friday, November 3, 2023 on the need to save the country from the devastating effects of Climate Change.

Meanwhile, national examinations scheduled for that day shall proceed normally.