Kenya Marks First National Tree Planting Day to Tackle Climate Change
Kenya made history on November 13, 2023, by observing its first-ever National Tree Planting Day — a public holiday dedicated to environmental restoration and climate action. The landmark initiative, declared by Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki, called on all citizens to plant trees as a patriotic act to combat the devastating effects of climate change. The government has declared a special holiday on Monday, November 13, during which the public across the country shall be expected to plant trees as a patriotic contribution to national efforts to save our country, read the official notice. The move underscores Kenya’s commitment to increasing its forest cover from the current 7% to over 10% and achieving the ambitious goal of planting 15 billion trees by 2032.
President William Ruto led the inaugural exercise at Kiu Wetland in Makindu, Makueni County, where he and First Lady Rachel Ruto joined hundreds of volunteers in planting more than 150,000 seedlings. The Kenya Defence Forces coordinated the event, symbolizing the start of a nationwide environmental movement. Kenya Forest Service Chief Conservator Alex Lemarkoko announced that 100 million seedlings would be planted across the country during the day, with Cabinet Secretaries from the Kenya Kwanza administration overseeing similar activities in all 46 other counties. The Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, and Forestry distributed free seedlings to citizens, reinforcing the government’s message of unity in climate action.
The initiative comes amid worsening climate conditions across the Horn of Africa, where five consecutive failed rainy seasons have triggered severe droughts and food insecurity. Environmental experts have lauded the government’s strategy, noting that tree planting is a vital step toward restoring ecosystems, improving rainfall patterns, and capturing harmful carbon emissions. Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jnr reaffirmed regional commitment, announcing plans to grow 344 million trees in the county by 2032. Kenya’s National Tree Planting Day marks a turning point in the nation’s environmental policy — transforming climate resilience from a policy statement into a citizen-driven movement for a greener, healthier future.