Ruto, Gachagua lead national tree planting exercise in Makueni

President Wiliam Ruto.

President Wiliam Ruto, First Lady Rachel Ruto, DP Rigathi Gachagua, and Pastor Dorcas Rigathi have led the country in a national tree-planting exercise.

The four also placed their tree seedlings on the ground in that order.

Meanwhile, members of the cabinet toured assigned countries where they led the tree-planting exercise.

While touring the Kiu Wetland area of Makueni, the president also urged Kenyans who were present to take part in the exercise.

According to Environment, Climate Change and Forestry Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya the government settled for Kiu Wetland as the inaugural venue for tree planting because it is in line with the strategy dubbed, Wetlands Restoration Strategy.

The government plans to plant about 500 million tree seedlings during the nationwide tree-planting exercise on Monday.

This part of the government's plan to increase the forest cover from the current 7.4 per cent to 10 per cent, as is required by the Constitution.

Therefore, the government declared Monday a public holiday to allow Kenyans to take part in the exercise.