President Ruto expected in Trans Nzoia as government targets 17.24 million trees

NAIROBI, Kenya Oct 10 – Kenya is targeting the planting of 17.24 million trees during this year’s Mazingira Day celebrations, as the government steps up efforts to restore degraded land and achieve its ambitious 15-billion-tree goal by 2032. The national celebrations are taking place on Saturday in Trans Nzoia County, with activities involving government agencies, schools, community groups and other institutions across the country. Environment Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa said more than 51,000 community planters would take part in activities at 79 sites across 31 counties, with millions of seedlings expected to be planted.

“Every tree will be counted, geo-tagged and certified. This is accountability in action,” Barasa said, explaining how the government intends to track tree planting and monitor its impact. The programme includes planting by village elders, the Kenya Prisons Service, the National Youth Service and learning institutions.

The government is also promoting digital tools to record and monitor tree-growing activities. The campaign comes as Kenya seeks to protect water sources, restore forests, improve soil health and strengthen its response to climate change. The government has previously reported that 2.2 billion trees had been planted towards the national target of 15 billion by 2032.

The celebrations are being held under the theme “Our Environment, Our Responsibility: Collective Action for Tree Growing and Environmental Stewardship.” NAIROBI,Kenya Oct 10 – President William Ruto is expected in Trans Nzoia County on Saturday for Mazingira Day celebrations, as the government rolls out a nationwide campaign targeting the planting of 17.24 million trees. The President will attend the national tree-growing ceremony at Konoin Primary School in Shikhendu before proceeding to Kenya Seed Company’s Elgon Downs Farm in Endebess, where the campaign will continue.

Environment Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa said the exercise would bring together government agencies, schools, local communities and other stakeholders in a coordinated push to increase tree cover and restore degraded ecosystems. Trans Nzoia will host the national event, while planting activities will take place at 79 sites in 31 counties, with more than 51,000 community planters expected to participate under the coordination of the Kenya Forest Service and Community Forest Associations. The campaign will also enlist village elders, prison authorities and the National Youth Service, with each group assigned specific planting targets.

Village elders are expected to plant 100 trees in each of the country’s 77,252 villages, translating to more than 7.7 million trees. The Kenya Prisons Service has a target of one million trees across 68 facilities, while the National Youth Service will plant another 1.5 million. Technical and Vocational Education and Training institutions and basic education schools will also be involved in the exercise.