Church Leader Joins Second Lady of Kenya in Furthering Trees for Food Initiative

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On September 12, 2025 Elder Thierry Mutombo, Area President of the Africa Central Area met with the Second Lady of Kenya, Dr. Joyce Kithure and County Commissioner David Gitonga in Kathwana, Tharaka Nithi County, to present 20,000 fruit tree seedlings to be planted throughout the area.   Several thousand local residents turned out to greet Her Excellency as she made a rare public appearance in her new role as Second Lady, and as she returned to the place where she was raised.

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Elder Mutombo said, “Today’s donation is part of the Fruit Trees for Food initiative, which has already seen more than 450,000 fruit trees distributed across Kenya in 31 counties over the past four years. The success of this has been made possible through the partnership with the Ministry of Interior, through the National Government Administration Officers (NGAO). These trees—mango, orange, and avocado—will provide nutritious food, shade, and economic opportunity for thousands of families".

Second Lady Dr. Joyce Kithure noted that arid and semi-arid areas are at a greater risk, calling for more responses to mitigate impact. "Climate change is no longer a distant threat; it is a present reality. Erratic rainfall, prolonged droughts, insufficient water and food insecurity affect us all, particularly here in arid and semi-arid counties..., planting trees is one of the most practical and effective ways of mitigating impacts of climate change," she said.

Kithure pointed out that trees blend well with any natural ecosystem, providing solutions to the myriad environmental challenges facing humanity. "Trees conserve water, prevent soil erosion, and absorb carbon dioxide, making our environment healthier and more resilient, which is a very clear way of combating the environmental pollution," she stated.

She welcomed the Church's initiative dubbed 'Trees for Food Project', that aims at distributing fruit trees to Kenyans across the country. Under the project, the Church has donated hundreds of thousands of fruit tree seedlings as it seeks to restore the environment, support livelihoods, and strengthen communities.

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"Today is our turn, and we are honoured that Tharaka Nithi is part of this effort... which also contributes directly to our President, His Excellency, Dr. William Ruto’s ambitious goal of planting 15 billion trees by 2032," Kithure noted.

The choice of fruit trees was welcomed as Kithure outlined their benefits to the people, on top of conserving the environment. "These fruit trees represent a shift toward sustainable and climate-smart agriculture. They require less intensive care than traditional crops, they are drought resistant, and they provide a stable source of food and income. This is about working smarter, not just harder," going on to urge the community to “take ownership of these trees, to nuture them as they would their own children”. 

In his remarks Elder Mutombo emphasized that “We are all stewards here, through this project we are going all to participate in the fruit initiative that will contribute to protecting the environment, fighting climate change, and restore biodiversity, to increase green cover, improve air quality, provide food security and nutrition, and build a community as people will come, working together, arm to arm, shoulder to shoulder, around a positive… activity that fosters unity and social connection.

And this activity will also help the rising generation to be accountable and responsible, allowing them to participate so they can learn that taking care of a tree is a way to prepare for a better future, as they learn to love, to respect, to nurture and protect the environment in which they live.”

He added, “There is an old proverb that says, ‘The best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago, the second-best time to plant a tree is now.”

In conclusion he remarked, “We are gathered together on this special day because we love God, and we love each other and because we believe that in serving our neighbors, loving God, and loving others, we can build a community where we’ll live peacefully, loving each other, caring for each other and working together for a better future. May God bless this beautiful land of Kenya and all the Kenyans.”