Kenya Sets 17.24 Million Tree Target for Mazingira Week Ahead of 15-Billion Goal

Environment Cabinet Secretary Dr Deborah Barasa announced that the government will aim to plant 17.24 million trees during Mazingira Week, which runs from Monday, October 5 to Saturday, October 10, 2026, as part of the National 15-Billion Tree Growing Programme that seeks to reach 15 billion trees by 2032.

The week-long campaign will culminate on Saturday, October 10, with the main National Mazingira Day ceremony and the Presidential Green Challenge hosted in Trans Nzoia County, beginning at Konoin Primary School in Shikhendu before moving to Kenya Seed Company’s Elgon Downs Farm in Endebess.

Under the programme, seven planting streams will involve ministries, departments, agencies, communities and partners, including village elders who are expected to plant 100 trees each in all 77,252 villages, the Kenya Forest Service and Community Forest Associations leading more than 51,000 community planters at 79 sites in 31 counties, the National Youth Service committing 1.5 million trees, and the Kenya Prisons Service contributing one million trees across 68 facilities, with schools and TVET institutions also taking part.

The Presidential Green Challenge, the centerpiece of Saturday’s event, targets 5.1 million trees at 79 sites across 31 counties and will involve over 51,000 community members, while digital platform JazaMiti will be used to geo-tag and count every tree in real time.

Barasa said seedlings have been pre-positioned, planting sites prepared and that each tree will be monitored for survival after 90 days, with pledges tracked quarterly and long-term support provided to Community Forest Associations and farmer groups.

Government spokesperson Charles Owino described the initiative as a “Whole of Government, Whole of Society and personal responsibility” effort, and Barasa urged Kenyans to nurture the seedlings, stating, “Our environment is our responsibility. Together, let us grow it, protect it and pass it on better than we found it.”