PM says Mau tree planting on

Prime Minister Raila Odinga Wednesday allayed fears that the Mau Forest tree planting exercise was in danger saying it will go ahead on schedule.

He also added that he believes President Kibaki will attend the Friday re-afforestation of the country's largest water tower, contrary to reports that he would give the ceremony a miss.

"The government will be there," said the PM during a news conference at his Treasury office in Nairobi.

"Remember that the President announced during his New Year speech that he will lead the exercise of planting trees in the Mau."

But a statement from President Kibaki's office pointed to the possibility that he might not attend the tree planting as he will be in another event on the same day, effectively contradicting the PM's position.

"President Mwai Kibaki will this Friday 15th January, 2010 witness the swearing in of Judges of the Interim Independent Constitutional Dispute Resolution Court (IICDRC).

The statement added that the ceremony will be held at State House, Nairobi but did not give an exact time.

State House also released a copy of President Kibaki's New Year speech, and paid particular reference to excerpts on conserving the environment and climate change.

"I also urge all Kenyans to individually take responsibility over our environment, to engage more aggressively in water harvesting and to use available water resources prudently. Let us make the year TWENTY TEN the GREEN YEAR FOR KENYA.

"In this regard, more emphasis will be placed on energy production via green pathways including geothermal and wind energy. We will also begin an ambitious plan of planting trees and get our forest cover to ten percent," said part of the speech.

The President's office said that Mr Kibaki had not given an exact date for tree planting in the forest.

The tree planting exercise, which ambassadors, Cabinet ministers, the Kenya Army and friends of Mau are slated to attend, appeared to be in jeopardy Tuesday after officials of the Mau Secretariat were told that two briefing sessions for President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga had been called off.

However, Mr Odinga confirmed that the event will proceed "on Friday, January 15, 2010 as I announced earlier."

He said the country had been "engaged in plenty of talk about the need to conserve the Mau and, indeed, all our water towers," for the last two years adding that the time to act was now.

"We cannot procrastinate any longer.