Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has directed Kenyans on activities they should do during the upcoming Mazingira Day holiday.
Duale in a press statement issued on Tuesday, October 8, 2024, noted that President William Ruto had redesigned Utamaduni Day as Mazingira Day, to be observed as a national holiday on October 10, every year.
“In furtherance of the Constitutional right to a clean and healthy environment, H.E President William Ruto on 24 April 2024 assented to the Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendments Bill 2024) that saw the Public Holidays Act amended, redesignating Utamaduni Day as Mazingira Day, to be observed as a national holiday on 10th of October every year,” Duale said in the press statement.
Duale on Mazingira Day
The day, Duale says, provides a crucial opportunity for Kenyans to accelerate environmental protection and raise awareness of the triple planetary crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution.
“Mazingira Day is a crucial opportunity to accelerate environmental protection and raise awareness of the triple planetary crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. It calls for urgent meaningful actions from both government and citizens to ensure prosperity and sustainability for present and future generations,” he stated.
Duale further stated that Mazingira Day celebrations aim at supporting the goal of restoring 10.6 million hectares of degraded land by planting 15 billion trees by the year 2032.
“Aligned with the National Landscape and Ecosystem Restoration Programme, Mazingira Day supports the goal of restoring 10.6 million hectares of degraded land by planting 15 billion trees by the year 2032, through a whole of Government and Society approach,” the statement reads.
Activities to do on Mazingira Day
To mark Mazingira Day, CS Duale has directed Kenyans to participate in environmental conservation initiatives.
The initiates listed by Duale include clean-up activities which he says will help rid the environment of unwanted waste from homes, roads, parks, beaches and any other areas that require clean-up.
He has also directed Kenyans to engage in tree-planting exercises, which is in line with the government’s efforts towards accelerating landscape and ecosystem restoration.
Moreover, Kenyans will be required to organise and attend forums, as well as get involved in activities that highlight pollution control and good waste management practices.
“To celebrate Mazingira Day, all Kenyans are therefore encouraged to participate in environmental conservation initiatives which include: Clean-up activities to rid the environment of unwanted waste from homes, roads, parks, beaches and any other areas that require clean up, tree planting in line with the government efforts towards accelerating landscape and ecosystem restoration by growing 15 Billion trees by 2032 which will also be instrumental in addressing the effects of climate change. These can be done in homes, schools and other available spaces,” Duale’s statement reads.
Mazingira Day 2024-National Holiday on the 10th October 2024.
A crucial opportunity to accelerate Environmental protection and raise awareness of the triple planetary crises of climate change, biodiversity and pollution. @citizentvkenya @KTNNewsKE @ntvkenya @KBCChannel1 pic.twitter.com/wk9NmOwguq— Ministry of Environment, Climate Change & Forestry (@Environment_Ke) October 8, 2024