NAIROBI, Kenya

Kenyans enjoyed a unique public holiday on Monday dedicated to planting 100 million trees, a significant step towards the government's ambitious plan to plant 15 billion trees within the next decade in response to the escalating climate crisis.

The decision, spearheaded by Environment Minister Soipan Tuya, aims to engage every Kenyan in the nationwide tree-planting initiative, allowing each citizen to contribute actively to environmental conservation.

Tuya said the special holiday empowers each and every Kenyan to own the initiative, fostering a collective effort to combat climate change and its associated challenges.

Against the backdrop of recurrent floods and a history marked by severe droughts, the government sees afforestation as a crucial strategy to mitigate the impact of climate change.

Kenyans were urged to plant a minimum of two seedlings each, contributing to the ambitious target of 100 million trees.

Government officials in Kenya have championed the tree-planting holiday as climate experts applauded the initiative.

Experts say the initiative has the potential to bolster environmental resilience and combat the escalating challenges posed by climate change.