Big win for the environment as Kenyans turn up to plant fruits

Kenyans on Friday united to plant trees across the country to mark this year’s Mazingira Day, as the government intensified efforts to boost forest cover.

There was a beehive of activity in various parts of the country as government officials, environmental enthusiasts, and other Kenyans planted trees.

In some areas, residents planted fruit trees with the aim of addressing both climate change and food security.

In Nyanza, Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi led residents of Homa Bay County in planting trees at Wiga and Ligongo primary schools in Suba South Sub-county, where more than 5,000 seedlings were planted.

During the event, hundreds of residents also received tree seedlings to plant on their farms and in their villages.

Mbadi, who was accompanied by Homa Bay Woman Representative Joyce Osogo, said the activity was aimed at addressing desertification caused by the adverse impact of climate change.

“Climate change is a serious issue affecting our country. What we are doing here is to address its impact,” Mbadi said.

He urged residents to prioritise planting fruit trees, noting that they have multiple benefits.

“Let us embrace planting fruit trees. This will help alleviate food shortages and promote conservation of the environment at the same time,” he said.
He expressed confidence that the government would achieve its target of planting at least 15 billion trees by 2032.

Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo led a similar exercise at Mbita Primary School. The event brought together learners, teachers, parents, and local leaders in support of the government’s mission to plant 15 billion trees by 2032.

He said the Ministry of Interior has a dedicated target of 200 million trees, positioning it among the leading ministries in meeting the President’s directive on environmental restoration.

Dr Omollo emphasised the significance of nurturing trees.

“We are not only planting trees, but we want to grow them. Let all the trees planted be nurtured,” he said.
He added that tree planting is one of the ways of giving back to society.

“This is one of the ways of giving back to the community. Let us all embrace tree planting,” he said.
Dr Omollo encouraged pupils to each take responsibility for nurturing their own trees.

“We have agreed that every child will look after their tree so that when we return next year, or even in three years, we will find them still thriving and bearing fruit,” he said.
In Kisumu, City Manager Abala Wanga led residents in planting trees at Kajulu Hills, a major water tower in the region.

Fruit trees

In Migori County, Public Investment and Assets Management PS Cyrell Wagunda led Mazingira Day celebrations at Wasio Comprehensive School in Suna East Sub-county.
The PS said the focus was on planting fruit trees in schools to promote nutrition and livelihoods.

In the Mount Kenya region, Lands CS Alice Wahome was joined by leading environmentalists Gladys Wambui and Diana Kagiri to plant more than 4,500 trees at Karumu Primary School and neighbouring institutions.

At Kianwe Primary School in Ndia Constituency, Secretary to the Cabinet Mercy Wanjau warned that the State would not tolerate those destroying young lives through drugs, emphasising that drug abuse remains a major threat to the nation’s productivity and family stability.

“Those who sell drugs to our young people will be dealt with firmly. We must protect our children and empower them to build a better Kenya,” she said.
As part of the celebrations, over 1,600 trees—both indigenous and fruit species—were planted in the school and nearby community spaces to promote environmental conservation. Wanjau urged parents to guide their children in caring for the planted trees and to play a more active role in protecting the environment.

In Mumias East Sub-county in Western Kenya, celebrations were held at Khaunga Primary School, where Governor Fernandes Barasa, pupils, teachers, and community members planted fruit tree seedlings to promote environmental protection, nutrition, and climate resilience.

Barasa said that returning to his alma mater to mark the day was both nostalgic and meaningful.

“I am honoured to return to my former school, Khaunga Primary, to mark Mazingira Day 2025. Together with the pupils, we planted fruit trees to support the national goal of growing 15 billion trees by 2032,” said Barasa.
“We are not only advancing environmental conservation but also promoting good nutrition and resilience against climate change.”
Barasa reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to conserve Kakamega Forest.

He noted that these initiatives complement the national government’s target of planting 15 billion trees by 2032, emphasising the importance of environmental conservation for future generations.

Meanwhile, in Malava Sub-county, a team led by Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya, Principal Secretary for Higher Education Beatrice Inyangala, and MPs Bishop Titus Khamala, Benard Shinali, and Fred Ikana spearheaded another tree-planting exercise attended by hundreds of residents and students.

CS Oparanya urged communities across the western region to embrace tree planting as a civic duty and moral responsibility to future generations.

“Climate change is already affecting our farms, rivers, and livelihoods. Planting trees is not just an environmental act—it’s an investment in the survival of our children and the stability of our ecosystem,” he said.
Bishop Titus Khamala, the Lurambi MP who led an opening prayer before the exercise, said the church would continue to champion environmental conservation as part of its moral and social calling.

“God gave us the environment to nurture, not to destroy. Planting trees is a form of worship and stewardship, and every believer should take part,” he said.
Ikolomani MP Benard Shinali called for stronger collaboration between national and county governments to sustain the 15-billion-tree initiative beyond symbolic events.

“We must ensure that these seedlings survive. The government should support schools and communities with water, fencing, and follow-up programmes so that the trees we plant today grow into forests tomorrow,” he said.
Principal Secretary for Higher Learning Beatrice Inyangala, who joined the leaders in planting seedlings, highlighted the nutritional and economic value of fruit trees.

Similarly, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi led local leaders and residents of South Maragoli in a massive tree-planting exercise at Maragoli Hills Forest to mark Mazingira Day.

The exercise is part of a long-term initiative to conserve one of the Western region’s most critical yet severely degraded water towers.

The event brought together hundreds of community members, youth groups, and conservationists in a renewed push to restore the once-thriving forest ecosystem that supports water flow to surrounding areas.

The event saw over 10,000 indigenous seedlings and bamboo planted.
Mudavadi lauded the progress made so far and emphasised the need for continued public participation in environmental restoration.

[Reports by James Omoro, Anne Atieno, Benard Lusigi, Brian Kisanji, Clinton Ambujo, Jane Mugambi, and Mary Imenza]