Azimio La Umoja coalition Principal Raila Odinga joined national government officials and Kenyans in embracing National Tree Growing Day.
Raila who was in Homa Bay, planted a seedling as President William Ruto presided over the main event in Makindu, Makueni.
Interior CS Kithure Kindiki had declared Monday, November 13 a public holiday.
In a gazette notice dated November 6, Kindiki said the public shall be engaged in tree growing countrywide.
"In Exercise of the powers conferred by section 3 of the Public Holidays Act, the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration declares Monday, November 13, 2023, a public holiday in which the public shall be engaged in tree growing countrywide," the gazette notice read.
"The exercise is part of Kenya’s Landscape and Ecosystem Restoration Program–Towards the Growing of Fifteen (15) billion trees."
The ODM party leader was in Governor Gladys Wanga-led county to recruit people to register with his party.
At the moment, ODM currently has 8.2 million members and it is targeting to hit 15 million by 2025.
According to Raila, the registration exercise will culminate in grassroots elections in March 2024 and subsequently the national elections.
“I want to convey greetings to all our members across the country, we are approaching the end of the year and we have decided that this time we are going to launch the recruitment of new members,” he said.
The exercise according to the Opposition leader is set to be concluded before March.
“We will elect officials from the smallest unit which is the polling station then we go to the wards, subcounty and finally the county,” he said.
The elections will lead to the National Delegates Convention where the members are set to elect its national officials.
Registration is also set to be conducted online.
