Returning to Our Roots: Kenya Plants a Greener Future on Mazingira Day 2025
1st October 2025
By Liz Anyango
Nairobi, Kenya: This 10th October, Kenya will celebrate its first-ever Mazingira Day, a day that is more than just planting trees it is a nationwide invitation for every Kenyan to reconnect with their schools, their communities, and the land that sustains them.
PHOTO: Dr. Eng. Festus K. Ng’eno, Principal Secretary, State Department for Environment, and Mr. Gitonga Mugambi, Principal Secretary, State Department for Forestry Addressing The Media
Under the theme “Citizen-Centric Tree Growing and Environmental Stewardship,” the day marks a significant milestone in Kenya’s Vision 2030 environmental strategy, a plan that aims for a greener, healthier, and more resilient nation.
At a recent media briefing in Nairobi, Dr. Eng. Festus K. Ng’eno, Principal Secretary for the State Department of Environment and Climate Change, urged citizens to take the day personally.
“We want every Kenyan to return to their primary schools, donate and plant fruit trees, clean the school environment, and leave a legacy for future generations,” he said, emphasizing the collective power of communities in shaping Kenya’s environmental future.
His rallying cry, #TurudiPrimoTukadonateFruitTrees na KucleanEnvironment, has already begun inspiring alumni, students, and local communities across the country.
The focus on fruit trees is intentional. They are not just decorative; they are living investments in Kenya’s future. Fruit trees provide children with fresh, nutritious food, create shaded spaces for learning, and even offer income opportunities for families through surplus harvests.
Beyond these practical benefits, the trees enhance biodiversity, improve school microclimates, and instill environmental stewardship in young learners, ensuring that the seeds of responsibility take root early.
The main Mazingira Day event will take place at Kabuyefwe Primary School in Trans-Nzoia County, where over 10,000 fruit trees will be planted across 60 acres. The day will be filled with cultural performances, mentorship sessions, and community activities, bringing together students, alumni, leaders, and development partners for a hands-on learning experience.
But the celebration does not stop there. Across Kenya, more than 9,000 primary schools will host simultaneous tree-planting and clean-up activities, coordinated by local leaders, governors, and alumni.
With a national target of 71.14 million seedlings planted in 35,570 schools, even schools with limited space are ensuring that extra seedlings go home with learners, allowing every child to take part in shaping a greener future.
Mazingira Day is part of a broader national and Pan-African vision. It complements Kenya’s Vision 2030 environmental plan, which emphasizes sustainable land use, restoration of degraded landscapes, and community-led conservation.
President William Ruto’s directive on tree planting has accelerated the 15 Billion Tree Growing Programme, aiming to restore 10.6 million hectares of degraded land and achieve 30% tree cover by 2032.
These initiatives are positioning Kenya not just as a national leader in reforestation but as a model for other African nations to follow.
The day goes beyond tree planting. Mazingira Day also encourages cleaner environments, proper waste segregation, and the creation of green jobs, particularly for youth and women.
By linking the celebrations to events like World Clean-Up Day and Chiefs’ Climate Action Day, the government is fostering a culture of environmental responsibility while promoting economic opportunities through a circular economy.
As Dr. Ng’eno passionately stated, “This is a day to return to our rootsnot just to plant trees, but to plant values, habits, and hope for a greener Kenya. Every seed sown today is a legacy for tomorrow.”
On 10th October, as alumni, students, and communities across Kenya dig, plant, and clean, the story of Mazingira Day will ripple far beyond schoolyards.
It is a story of national pride, intergenerational responsibility, and Pan-African leadership in environmental stewardship, a day when Kenya is not just greening its land, but inspiring an entire continent to follow.
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