The Ministry of Education has directed all public and private schools across Kenya to participate in a nationwide tree-planting exercise on Mazingira Day, scheduled for Friday, October 10, 2025.
The initiative, themed “Citizen-Centric Tree Growing and Environmental Stewardship,” aims to position learning institutions as central hubs for environmental conservation and community engagement.
In a circular addressed to Regional, County, and Sub-County Directors of Education, Principal Secretary for Basic Education Julius Bitok announced that both public and private primary schools have been designated as the main venues for the exercise.
“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,” Bitok stated.
He explained that the emphasis on fruit trees this year is intended to promote environmental sustainability while improving school-based nutrition through the establishment of orchards. The ministry hopes this approach will enhance the availability of fresh produce in learning institutions.
Additionally, the circular highlighted that the initiative seeks to strengthen the bond between schools and their former students.
“The exercise aims to foster strong school alumni networks by rallying former and current learners’ support for initiatives that benefit their institutions,” the statement noted.
Regional and County Directors of Education have been instructed to coordinate the event and ensure schools mobilise learners, parents, and community members for active participation.
Schools will remain open from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Mazingira Day, despite it being a public holiday, to facilitate the planting exercise.
The tree-planting campaign aligns with the government’s broader national reforestation agenda, which targets the growth of 15 billion trees by 2032 under President William Ruto’s climate restoration programme.
According to the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, and Forestry, over 1.06 billion trees have already been planted since the initiative launched in December 2022.
The government aims to plant 71.14 million fruit tree seedlings across 35,570 public and private primary schools nationwide, with seedling supply supported by the National Youth Service (NYS) at Sh150 per seedling.
Bitok urged teachers, learners, and alumni to take responsibility for nurturing the planted trees to ensure long-term sustainability. “Your cooperation in ensuring the successful celebration of Mazingira Day 2025 is highly appreciated,” he said.
Experts note that the challenge ahead lies not just in planting trees but in ensuring their survival — a key shift towards sustainable environmental restoration across Kenya.
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