First Lady Rachel Ruto leads planting of 4,000 indigenous trees in Kitale

First Lady Rachel Ruto when she participated in sweeping of Kitale streets. [Osinde Obare, Standard]

First Lady Rachel Ruto has called on Kenyans to embrace growing trees in order to promote the government's agenda to plant 15 billion trees in the next 10 years.

Speaking in Kitale, Trans Nzoia County where she led in the planting of 4,000 trees donated by the Kenya Seed Company and the Kenya Forest Service, Rachael stressed the need to take care of the trees after planting to ensure total maturity.

"It is not just about planting trees but embracing growing trees by ensuring they are protected from destruction. The severe drought last year led to loss of livestock and caused food shortages. I encourage Kenyans to take personal responsibility to plant trees," she stated.

At the same time, she discouraged locals from destroying existing forests and over-relying on firewood for cooking.

"I encourage my fellow women to shun the use of firewood for cooking as this contributes to the destruction of forests. Let us opt for gas," she urged.

The First Lady was accompanied by Trans Nzoia First Lady Lillian Natembeya and the County's Secretary Truphosa Were.

The recreational facility next to the New Kenya Cooperative Creameries (KCC) plant was renamed Mama Rachel Ruto Park with the new KCC Managing Director Nixon Sigey pledging to maintain the park.