The government has set a target of planting 17.24 million trees during this year’s National Mazingira Week as Kenya steps up efforts to restore forests and promote environmental conservation.
Government Spokesperson Charles Owino, MBS, said the campaign will culminate in National Mazingira Day on October 10, with Kenyans expected to participate in tree growing, environmental clean-ups and restoration activities across the country.
Speaking in Nairobi on Monday, Owino said this year’s celebrations will be held under the theme “Our Environment, Our Responsibility: Collective Action for Tree Growing and Environmental Stewardship.”
He said environmental conservation should not be viewed solely as a government responsibility, but as a duty shared by individuals, communities, institutions, the private sector and development partners.
“Environmental conservation is practical and personal and not just a government policy issue,” Owino said.
He noted that protecting the environment is critical to securing clean water, healthy soils, food production, livelihoods, jobs, economic opportunities and a sustainable future for generations.
The government has lined up a series of activities throughout Mazingira Week, beginning with education institutions on Tuesday, October 6. Schools, TVET institutions and universities will undertake tree planting and environmental clean-up activities.
On Wednesday, the focus will shift to mine-site restoration, with activities planned in Kakamega, Siaya, Migori, Busia and Kisii. Thursday will be dedicated to highway greening and drainage clean-ups, while Friday will be observed as a nationwide environmental clean-up day across all 47 counties.
The main celebrations on Saturday will feature a Presidential Green Challenge targeting more than five million trees at 79 sites across 31 counties.
The national event will be hosted in Trans Nzoia County, with Kenya Forest Service and Community Forest Associations taking the lead in tree planting and site preparation.
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Village elders will also play a major role, with 77,252 elders across 30 counties expected to lead the planting of 100 trees each. The initiative will be linked to community environmental dialogues in villages.
Institutional tree-growing activities will include the Kenya Prisons Service planting one million trees across 68 correctional facilities, while the National Youth Service will target 1.5 million trees.
The Ministry of Defence will also mobilise military units to support tree planting around their respective locations.
The overall target will also include one million trees in TVET institutions, 640,000 in basic education institutions and 400,000 in higher education institutions.
The campaign is part of Kenya’s wider target of growing 15 billion trees by 2032 and strengthening the country’s environmental resilience.
Owino urged Kenyans to go beyond discussions about environmental protection and take practical action in their homes, workplaces and communities.
He encouraged citizens to plant and nurture trees, protect existing forests, restore degraded areas, safeguard rivers and wetlands, dispose of waste responsibly and reduce pollution.
“Don’t just talk about the environment; do something for it,” he said.
The government said the Mazingira Day tree-growing programme will continue annually, reinforcing the message that environmental conservation is a Whole of Government, Whole of Society and personal responsibility.
The campaign will be carried under the slogan #PandaMitiBoreshaMazingira.
