Absa Life Assurance Kenya has today launched a mangrove reforestation initiative in Tsunza, Kwale County, with the planting of 10,000 mangrove trees.
The initiative, led in partnership with community groups and supported by the Kenya Forest Service (KFS), Kenya Defense Forces (KDF), and environmental organizations including Furaha and Bakara Farms, is part of the insurer’s broader effort to respond to both environmental degradation and social vulnerability in coastal areas.
The session brought together more than 100 participants, including government officials, local farmers, and community leaders. Once fully mature, the 10,000 mangroves planted are expected to cover nearly 10 hectares of shoreline.
Despite often being overlooked, mangroves are among nature’s most effective carbon sinks.
Studies by the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) reveal that mangrove forests can absorb up to four times more carbon than tropical rainforests.
They also act as buffers for coastlines, reducing the impact of storm surges and preventing erosion , while simultaneously serving as breeding grounds for fish and other marine life that support local livelihoods.
Speaking during the planting exercise in Kwale county, Elseba Asinati, Head of Sustainability at Absa Life Assurance Kenya said that the initiative was about showing up in real ways for both the planet and the people who live closest to it.
“In Tsunza, we are seeing the cost of environmental change firsthand,” said Asinati. “This is one way we’re responding, by helping restore a natural system that supports food, income, and protection for this community.”
Absa Life Assurance Kenya said that the initiative goes beyond planting and has structured the project around a full cycle that includes seed collection, nursery management, planting, and long-term monitoring all done with community involvement. This has created new streams of income for local families, many of whom are engaged in hands-on care for the saplings.
On his part. Absa Life Managing Director and Principal Officer, Mr Githanji Waiguru, said that the company sees this work as an extension of its responsibility as an insurer, an industry built around managing and preparing for risk.
“As an insurer, we’re in the business of protecting futures. Climate risk is now one of the most urgent and far-reaching risks we face. If we don’t take action, we undermine that core mission. This is why we’re here not just talking about resilience, but investing in it.” Said Waiguru.
Absa Life Assurance also announced plans to extend tree-planting efforts beyond coastal regions, with a specific focus on partnering with schools and learning institutions across Kenya.
