Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki yesterday declared Monday, November 13, a public holiday.
In a gazette notice, 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, November 13, 2023, as a public holiday in which the public shall be engaged in tree growing countrywide,
“The exercise is part of Kenya’s Landscape and Ecosystem Restoration Program–Towards the Growing of Fifteen (15) billion trees,” the notice read in part.
However, in a statement on X social media, formerly Twitter, political analyst Mutahi Ngunyi faulted the Interior CS for declaring November 13, a public holiday.
Ngunyi said declaring Monday a public holiday will not serve the purpose it has been intended for, especially at this Christmas holiday.
He said the majority of the Kenyans will not participate in tree growing as they have no money to buy tree seedlings.
Instead, the analyst said Kenyans will use the holiday to drink beer like El Nino
“This government does not add up. I do not understand why November 13th is a public holiday. Is there something they know that we do not know?
“On the 13th weekend, Kenyans will drink beer like El Nino. No money to buy trees. Is the plot to get us drunk? And why?” Ngunyi posed.
