Interior CS Kithure Kindiki has gazetted Friday, May 10, as a public holiday.
In a gazette notice dated May 8, Kindiki said the public holiday is aimed at showing solidarity with people adversely affected by cyclic floods and droughts in recent times.
"Acknowledging that tree growing is the singular long-term solution to the climate crisis and its devastating effects on life on life and livelihoods;
"Now therefore, in the exercise of the powers conferred by section 3 of the Public Holidays Act, the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration, declares Friday, May 1oth a public holiday for purposes of countrywide tree growing activities," Kindiki said.
President William Ruto earlier announced the gazettement at State House Nairobi during a meeting with grassroots leaders from Kajiado Central and Laikipia North.
State House said the President announced that on the same day, an extensive tree-planting programme will be launched to conserve and restore the environment and begin to reverse the challenges of climate change.
“On this day, we will plant trees and remind ourselves that the solution to climate change is taking care of our environment,” Ruto said.
The President announced that the plan is to plant 200 million trees on the day and urged each Kenyan to plant at least 50 trees.
Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura said the Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Forestry and Climate Change will hold a press conference later on Wednesday to give further directions.
“We shall be having a National Tree Growing Day on Friday May 10, 2024. A gazette notice shall be issued to this effect,” he said.
On the destruction of infrastructure by flooding, the President said that the government will work with development partners to repair damaged roads.
During the meeting with the leaders led by MPs Kanchory Memusi (ODM) and Sarah Korere (Jubilee), Ruto also announced that schools will reopen on Monday, April 13.
He said the decision was made in consultation with the Meteorological Department, which has confirmed that the rains will subside in the coming days.
“All parents are now advised, based on the assessment of weather experts and the government, that it is safe for our children to go back to school,” Ruto said.
Schools were initially supposed to reopen on April 29, 2024, but the Ministry of Education postponed following massive flooding across the country.
Ruto said the government will release funds to the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) for rehabilitation of schools that have been damaged by the floods.