The Ministry of Education has directed all public and private schools across the country to take part in a nationwide tree planting exercise on Mazingira Day.
The day is set for Friday, October 10, 2025, under the theme “Citizen-Centric Tree Growing and Environmental Stewardship".
In a circular to Regional, County, and Sub-County Directors of Education, Principal Secretary for Basic Education Julius Bitok said the government has designated learning institutions as key centres for this year’s environmental activities.
“Both public and private primary schools have been identified as the main venues for the exercise, with each school expected to plant a minimum of 2,000 fruit trees,” the PS stated.
Bitok noted that this year’s focus on fruit trees is intended to promote environmental conservation while also enhancing school-based nutrition through the establishment of orchards in learning institutions.
The ministry said the initiative also seeks to strengthen school alumni networks, encouraging both former and current learners to contribute to projects that benefit their institutions and local communities.
“The exercise aims to foster strong school alumni networks by rallying former and current learners’ support for initiatives that benefit their institutions,” the statement added.
Regional and County Education Directors have been instructed to coordinate the event within their jurisdictions and to ensure schools mobilise learners, parents, and community members for active participation.
Schools have also been directed to remain open on Friday, October 10, from 8 am to 12pm, despite the day being a public holiday, to facilitate the planting exercise.
The tree planting drive is part of the government’s national reforestation campaign, which aims to grow 15 billion trees by 2032, in line with President William Ruto’s climate restoration agenda.
Over the past year, the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, and Forestry has partnered with county governments, schools, and public institutions to expand Kenya’s tree cover from 12.13 percent to 15 percent by 2032.
The Ministry of Education’s participation is seen as a vital step in embedding environmental stewardship within the country’s learning system.
Bitok urged teachers, learners, and alumni to take personal responsibility for nurturing the trees once planted to ensure sustainability.
"Your cooperation in ensuring the successful celebration of Mazingira Day 2025 is highly appreciated,” the circular stated.
The government has set an ambitious target of planting 71.14 million fruit tree seedlings across 35,570 public and private primary schools.
Seedling supply will be supported by the National Youth Service (NYS), offering seedlings at Sh150 each to facilitate widespread participation in schools.
Since the launch of the 15 Billion Tree Growing Programme in December 2022, over 1.06 billion trees have been planted nationwide, as reported by the Ministry of Environment.
The country's tree planting initiatives face challenges of seedling survival, maintenance, and funding gaps, a shift from merely planting to growing trees is increasingly emphasised by policy experts.
