Trans Nzoia to Host National Mazingira Day as Kenya Targets 17.24 Million Trees

By Faith Wanza mueni 

Photo Caption: Principal Secretary for Forestry Gitonga Mugambi, Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Forestry Deborah Barasa, and Government Spokesperson Charles Owino during a press briefing on the 2026 National Mazingira Day celebrations in Nairobi.

Kenya will target the planting of 17.24 million trees during this year’s National Mazingira Week as the government intensifies efforts to restore the country’s forest cover and promote environmental conservation.

The week-long campaign, running from October 5 to October 10, will culminate in the National Mazingira Day celebrations on Saturday, October 10, in Trans Nzoia County under the theme “Our Responsibility: Collective Action for Tree Growing and Environmental Stewardship.”

Government Spokesperson Charles Owino said the celebrations are intended to move environmental conservation beyond government policy and encourage Kenyans to take practical action in their homes, institutions and communities.

“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 during a press briefing at the Kenya Forest Service Nairobi Conservancy Office on Monday.

He urged Kenyans to plant and nurture trees, protect existing forests, clean public spaces, restore degraded areas, protect rivers and wetlands, dispose of waste responsibly and reduce pollution.

“Kenyans, don't just talk about the environment; do something for it!” Owino said.

According to Owino, the 17.24 million seedlings will be planted through seven streams involving communities, government institutions and learning institutions.

Village elders will lead the planting of about 7.7 million trees, with 77,252 elders across 30 counties expected to plant 100 trees each. The initiative will be linked to community environmental dialogues in villages across the country.

The Kenya Forest Service and Community Forest Associations will oversee the planting of more than 5 million trees at 79 sites across 31 counties, while the National Youth Service will plant 1.5 million trees.

The Kenya Prison Service will plant one million trees across 68 correctional facilities, while Technical and Vocational Education and Training institutions will account for another one million trees. Basic education institutions will target 640,000 trees, with higher education institutions expected to plant 400,000.

Owino said the government has also scheduled sector-specific activities throughout the week.

Tuesday will focus on tree planting and environmental clean-ups in learning institutions, while Wednesday will be dedicated to the restoration of mining sites in Kakamega, Siaya, Migori, Busia and Kisii counties.

Thursday will focus on highway greening and drainage clean-ups, while Friday will see environmental clean-ups conducted in all 47 counties.

Saturday’s National Mazingira Day will feature the Presidential Green Challenge, village-level tree planting and institutional planting activities.

The Presidential Green Challenge will target 5.1 million trees, with planting taking place at 79 sites. The national event will be hosted in Trans Nzoia County, including activities at Kenya Seed’s 80-hectare site and the 140-hectare Kimothon site.

Cabinet Secetary for Environment, Climate Change and Forestry Dr Deborah Barasa said the initiative was part of Kenya’s broader ambition to grow 15 billion trees by 2032, stressing that environmental protection is essential to the country’s survival and prosperity.

“This is not merely a ceremonial occasion. It is a national call to action,” Barasa said.

She said the government was adopting measures to ensure that trees planted are monitored and nurtured to maturity, including geo-tagging and certification.

“Every tree will be counted, geo-tagged and certified. This is accountability in action,” Barasa said.

Barasa added that the government was mobilising ministries, departments and agencies across different sectors to support the national restoration programme. The JaZaMiti platform will also be used for geo-tagging and real-time tree counting.

She said the programme would go beyond the annual celebrations through 90-day survival checks, quarterly tracking of pledges and long-term support for community forest associations and farmer groups.

“Yet government action alone is not enough. The environment is a shared inheritance and a shared responsibility,” Barasa said.

She called on citizens, faith-based organisations, the private sector, civil society, development partners and communities to participate in tree growing and environmental restoration.

Barasa said Trans Nzoia was selected to host the national celebrations because of its demonstrated commitment to environmental stewardship and cooperation between local communities and government institutions.

The celebrations will also feature exhibitions and demonstrations, including the Eco-Sort Takataka ni Mali initiative, the JaZaMiti USSD code launch, the cocoa value chain and the flagging of 5.3 million fruit tree seedlings.

The government estimates that the 17.24 million trees targeted during the week could have an estimated value of KSh172.24 billion over 10 years, based on a rate of KSh10 per tree.

Owino said the tree-growing programme would continue annually as part of a sustained national effort.

“Let us ensure that our environment is our responsibility. It is Whole of Government, Whole of Society and personal responsibility,” Owino said.

The campaign will be carried under the slogan #PandaMitiBoreshaMazingira, with the government calling on Kenyans to turn environmental conservation into sustained action.