To tackle the recent shortage of seedlings and support Kenya’s reforestation efforts, President Ruto has launched a nationwide initiative aimed at planting 2 billion tree seedlings annually.
The program will enlist 15,000 national service personnel who will work alongside the Kenya Forest Service to revitalize 300 forest nurseries.
Seventeen large-scale nurseries will be established across various ecological zones to ensure a consistent supply of seedlings.
Speaking on Friday at Statehouse during Mazingira Day celebrations, President Ruto called on all Kenyans to take part in the national tree planting campaign, urging citizens to plant trees in schools, communities, and deforested areas.
He also revealed that Kenya has planted 1.06 billion trees so far and announced plans to scale up efforts through enhanced seedling production across the country.
“Our plan today is clear, we are planting 100 million trees. Every Kenyan should go back to the school they attended and help plant trees,” President Ruto said.
He emphasised that tree planting is not just a symbolic act but a national duty, calling on all Kenyans to make it part of their community and school programmes.
“We are asking every Kenyan, wherever you went to school, primary, secondary, college, to go back and plant trees there,” he urged.
The President noted that Kenya’s efforts towards reforestation are part of a larger global conversation on climate resilience, pointing out that climate change continues to undermine development and threaten livelihoods.
“This conversation on climate change is not just about the environment, it is about development. Climate change brings floods, droughts, and wildfires that destroy food production, kill livestock, and disrupt livelihoods,” he explained.
Ruto said the government is committed to reforesting all areas that had been previously deforested, including sensitive ecosystems, water catchment, and watershed areas.
“We have agreed that we are reforesting all the areas that had been deforested for one reason or another. We must focus on water catchment and watershed areas because trees are very important in the environment of the Republic of Kenya,” he said.
Ruto highlighted that the biggest challenge facing the campaign is limited access to seedlings, but assured that the government has put in place measures to address the shortage.
“The bottleneck we have had is the availability of seedlings. Many people want to plant but can’t find them. We are now intervening to make sure seedlings are available,” he said.
The President further directed the Ministry of Education, in collaboration with Members of Parliament, to allocate 5% of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) towards youth-led seedling production.
“We have asked the Ministry of Education and Members of Parliament to set aside 5% of the CDF budget for seedling production by young people across Kenya,” Ruto announced.
The President commended youth groups and community organizations that have already taken part in tree nurseries, emphasising that seedlings are the backbone of Kenya’s reforestation plan.
He urged every Kenyan to view tree planting as a patriotic act that secures the country’s environmental and economic future.
“Tree planting must be a national exercise. It is our duty as Kenyans to secure our environment for generations to come,” he concluded.