William Ruto Assents To Bill Effecting Renaming Of Moi Day To Mazingira Day

• November 13, 2023, was declared a public holiday for Kenyans across the country to plant trees
• The government has a plan to increase forest cover by planting 15 billion trees by 2030 to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change
• President William Ruto has now assented to a bill renaming Moi Day to Mazingira Day, a public holiday that will be dedicated to planting trees

Nairobi - President William Ruto assented to a bill effecting the renaming of Moi Day to Mazingira Day at State House Nairobi.

Ruto assented to the bill on Wednesday, April 24, in the presence of top government officials including the Head of Public Service, Felix Koskei.

Moi Day, which was renamed Huduma Day by former president Uhuru Kenyatta, will now be officially referred to as Mazinigira Day and shall be marked on October 10 each year.

Koskei, who spoke shortly after the signing of the bill into law, said having an official day dedicated to tree planting will go a long way in helping the government to meet its target of planting 15 billion trees by 203o and increase the country's forest cover to 15%.

"The Bill Amends the Public Holiday Act (CAP) to substitute Utamaduni Day with Mazingira Day as a public holiday to be observed October 10, every year. This seeks to complement the government's effort towards environmental protection and conservation," Koskei explained.

Why Mazingira Day

Mazingira is a Kiswahili word for environment and encompasses a broader aspect of people's culture, traditions and service to the nation.

"The National Assembly was informed that the name Mazingira Day encompasses aspects of Huduma, our tradition which is Utamaduni, were in the previous naming," the clerk of National Assembly briefed.

National Tree Planting Day

November 13, 2023, was declared a public holiday by Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki for Kenyans across the country to plant trees.

Ruto led the nation in planting trees in Makueni county. This was in line with the government's effort to increase forest cover in the country by planting 15 billion trees by 2030.

After the exercise, a section of Kenyans called on the government to rename the day Wangari Mathai Day, in honour of her efforts in environmental conservation.

Proofreading by Asher Omondi, current affairs journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.