Voice of Palestine Launches Tree-Planting Campaign To Support GAZA and Climate Action
A coalition of leading Muslim organizations under the banner “Voice of Palestine” has launched a nationwide tree-planting initiative that aims to raise funds to support Palestinians facing a deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The campaign, unveiled in Nairobi today, blends humanitarian relief with environmental restoration, positioning it as both a solidarity gesture and a climate action effort.
Voice of Palestine comprises key Islamic organizations including the Jamia Mosque Committee, the National Muslim Leaders Forum (NAMLEF), the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM), and the Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya (CIPK), among others.
The tree-planting drive is intended to serve dual purposes mobilizing funds to alleviate the suffering in Gaza while contributing to President William Ruto’s national reforestation campaign to increase Kenya’s tree cover. Organizers emphasized the initiative as part of a broader partnership with government agencies, the private sector, and corporate partners to combat climate change, restore ecosystems, and secure a sustainable future for Kenya.
Former Senator Billow Kerrow Rallies Kenyans to Back Peace, Environment, and Palestine at Tree-Planting Launch,speaking during a press briefing at Weston Hotel
“Our tree-planting programme is a symbol of hope and resilience. It reflects our commitment to environmental restoration and our unwavering solidarity with the people of Palestine,” said a spokesperson for the coalition.
The leaders painted a grim picture of the humanitarian conditions in Gaza, where they say over 70,000 lives many women and children have been lost due to ongoing Israeli military actions. They condemned the use of food as a weapon of war and accused Israel of committing a sustained genocide in defiance of international law and United Nations resolutions.
“This is not a time for symbolic gestures or muted diplomacy. The atrocities in Gaza are crimes against humanity,” the statement read.
The coalition urged the Kenyan government to take a firmer stand by:
- Demanding the unconditional and unhindered entry of food and humanitarian aid into Gaza.
- Reviewing Kenya’s diplomatic and bilateral ties with Israel in light of its defiance of international humanitarian law.
Making his remarks,The Chief Officer of Environment, Nairobi County Geoffrey Mosiria has urged Kenyans to embrace peace and solidarity in the face of growing global challenges, particularly the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Speaking at the launch of the “Planting a Tree Zimbabwe Initiative” a campaign that merges environmental conservation with humanitarian support for Palestine Kerrow called on citizens and institutions alike to stand with the oppressed.
“As a country and as a world, we must preach peace. What’s happening in Egypt and Gaza shouldn’t be happening anywhere. We have a duty to speak up and act,” he said during the event.
Mosiria paid special tribute to Sheikh Zayed, one of the event’s lead organisers, and acknowledged the contributions of faith-based and civil society groups, including Voices of Palestine, for spearheading the campaign.
He recounted how Sheikh Zayed personally ensured his attendance and emphasized the importance of such interfaith collaboration. “Though I’m a Christian, I find brotherhood with my Muslim brothers sometimes they even call me Yusufu Mosire Aji,” he joked, underscoring the need for unity across religions. The former senator lauded the symbolic power of planting trees, describing it as “a message of compassion, justice, and hope.”
The initiative, which encourages Kenyans to plant trees as an act of solidarity with Palestinians, aims to mobilize action against climate change while spotlighting the human toll of conflict in Gaza. Mosiria called on government agencies, private institutions, and youth to actively support the cause, not just as environmental stewards but as ambassadors of peace.
“Let Kenya be remembered not only for its forests and rivers, but for the strength of its heart and the clarity of its voice,” he declared. “As we plant trees, may we also plant hope.”
The Voice of Palestine pledged continued action in support of justice and peace. “We will keep planting trees and planting hope, for Palestine and for our planet,” they said.
The initiative is expected to roll out across counties in the coming weeks, combining environmental stewardship with a powerful humanitarian message.
By Sharon Atieno
