17.24 Million Trees to Be Planted as Government Intensifies Environmental Restoration

17.24 Million Trees to Be Planted as Government Intensifies Environmental Restoration

Environment, Climate Change and Forestry CS Dr. Deborah Barasa(center), Government Spokesperson Charles Owino(right) and Principal Secretary for Forestry Gitonga Mugambi(left) address journalists in Nairobi on the 17.24 million tree planting drive and preparations for National Mazingira Day.

By Jeff Oyugi

Nairobi - October 5, 2026 

Kenya is set to plant 17.24 million trees during this year’s Mazingira Week as the Government intensifies efforts to restore degraded landscapes and accelerate progress towards its ambitious target of growing 15 billion trees by 2032.

The national campaign, which runs from Monday, October 5 to Saturday, October 10, will bring together government agencies, communities, schools, youth groups, village elders, the private sector, civil society and development partners in a coordinated environmental restoration programme.

Government Spokesperson Charles Owino said the annual National Mazingira Day should not be treated as merely a ceremonial event, but as a national call for Kenyans to take practical action to protect and restore the environment.

Speaking at the Kenya Forest Service Nairobi Conservancy Office on Monday in the presence of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa and Principal Secretary Gitonga Mugambi Owino urged citizens to plant and nurture trees, protect forests, clean public spaces and responsibly manage waste.

“This year's Mazingira Day is not simply a day on the calendar, it is a national call to action for environmental conservation,” Owino said, urging Kenyans to take responsibility for the environment in their homes, communities, institutions and workplaces.

The campaign will be conducted under the theme, “Our Environment, Our Responsibility, Collective Action for Tree Growing and Environmental Stewardship,” with the Government seeking to make the tree growing a sustained national responsibility rather than an activity limited to a single day.

According to the Government, the 17.24 million seedlings will be planted through seven major streams involving village elders, Kenya Forest Service and Community Forest Associations, the National Youth Service, Kenya Prisons Service, Technical and Vocational Education and Training institutions, basic education institutions and higher learning institutions.

CS Barasa said every tree planted under the programme would be counted, geo tagged and certified in an effort to strengthen accountability and ensure that the campaign focuses not only on planting seedlings but also on their survival.

“Every tree will be counted, geo tagged and certified. This is accountability in action,” Barasa said, noting that the Government was developing systems to track seedlings and measure their survival and impact.

The programme will culminate in National Mazingira Day on Saturday, October 10, with the main celebrations taking place in Trans Nzoia County. The Presidential Green Challenge will begin at Konoin Primary School in Shikhendu before proceeding to Kenya Seed Company’s Elgon Downs Farm in Endebess.

Trans Nzoia will host the national event after demonstrating what the Government described as sustained leadership in environmental stewardship through collaboration between local communities and national institutions.

The Presidential Green Challenge will target more than five million trees at 79 sites spread across 31 counties. More than 51,000 community members are expected to participate, with the Kenya Forest Service and Community Forest Associations taking the lead in preparing sites, pitting and planting seedlings.

The Government has identified about 4,951 hectares for the tree growing exercise across the 31 counties.

The programme will also take trees growing beyond designated national sites by involving village elders. Some 77,252 village elders in 30 counties will each lead the planting of 100 trees, translating to approximately 7.7 million trees.

The initiative is expected to link trees growing with community environmental dialogues in villages, extending environmental conservation efforts to the grassroots.

Other institutions will also contribute to the national target. The Kenya Prisons Service will plant one million trees across 68 correctional facilities, while the National Youth Service will plant 1.5 million trees following the passing out of its servicemen and women.

The Ministry of Defence will mobilise military units to support tree growing activities around their areas of operation.

Educational institutions will also form a significant part of the programme, with TVET institutions expected to plant one million trees, basic education institutions 640,000 trees and higher education institutions 400,000 trees.

The Government has placed particular emphasis on ensuring that the campaign delivers lasting environmental benefits. Barasa said the programme would include 90 day survival checks, quarterly tracking of pledges and long term support for Community Forest Associations and farmer groups.

CS Barasa said the initiative was intended to strengthen water towers, improve soil health, protect biodiversity and enhance Kenya’s resilience to climate change.

The week will also feature sector specific activities beginning with an education institutions day on Tuesday, when schools, TVETs and universities will conduct tree planting and environmental clean ups.

Wednesday will focus on restoration of mine sites in Kakamega, Siaya, Migori, Busia and Kisii, while Thursday will be dedicated to greening highways and cleaning drainage systems.

On Friday, all 47 counties will undertake clean up exercises around county headquarters, ahead of the national tree growing activities on Saturday.

The celebrations will also feature environmental exhibitions and demonstrations, including the Eco Sort initiative, the launch of the JazaMiti USSD code, the cocoa value chain and the flagging off of 5.3 million fruit tree seedlings.

Beyond tree planting, Government officials urged Kenyans to protect existing forests, rivers, wetlands and water resources, restore degraded areas, reduce pollution and dispose of waste responsibly.

Barasa stressed that government efforts would only succeed if citizens embraced environmental conservation as a personal responsibility.

“The environment is a shared inheritance and a shared responsibility,” she said, calling on women, men, youth, learners, elders, faith communities, businesses, civil society organisations and development partners to participate.

Owino similarly urged Kenyans not to limit their contribution to speeches and ceremonies, but to undertake practical actions that would improve the environment.

The Government says the annual Mazingira Day campaign will continue beyond this year as part of the broader 15 billion tree growing programme.

As Kenya prepares for Saturday’s national event, officials are hoping the initiative will move the country closer to a culture where environmental protection becomes an everyday responsibility rather than an annual undertaking.