First Lady Mama Rachel Ruto has entered into an agreement with the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) to adopt forests for restoration.

Through the MaMa Doing Good initiative, the First Lady will lead tree planting exercises that will see millions of trees planted across the country.

This was announced during a tree planting exercise at Shikusa Block in Kakamega Forest where the First Lady has adopted 500 acres.

“My office will plant over 500 million trees to complement the government’s plan to plant 15 billion by 2032,” said Mama Rachel Ruto.

The First Lady said she would work with community forest associations across the country in the restoration initiative.

“You have created a legacy by adopting Kakamega forest, the only remaining tropical forest in the country,” said KFS commander Alex Lemarkoko.

Mama Rachel Ruto urged governors and MPs’ spouses to join her initiative, which will also lead to the country having enough rainfall and food.

She was accompanied by the wives of various county governors.

Professor Janet Barasa (Kakamega), Betty Mutai (Kericho), Lina Chelilim (Uasin Gishu), Emilie Nyaribo (Nyamira) and Margaret Lusaka (Bungoma).

The spouses promised to lead the initiative in their respective counties and also initiate fruit planting programmes.

Also present was Kakamega Senator Bonny Khalwale, who said the initiative would be a boost for women and the country’s environment as a whole.

The government’s vision is for the country to achieve at least 30 per cent tree cover by 2032.

Kakamega women’s representative Elsie Muhanda compared the First Lady’s initiative to that of the late Nobel laureate Wangari Mathai.

The First Lady later addressed women groups from Kakamega where she urged them to take advantage of the recently unveiled Hustler Group loan.

Mama Rachel Ruto also announced that she will host a forum on women economic empowerment in Nairobi later this year, which will be graced by President William Ruto.