Nairobi: Environment, Climate Change and Forestry Cabinet Secretary (CS) Dr. Deborah Barasa has announced the ambitious goals for Mazingira Week 2026, underscoring Kenya’s commitment to becoming a global leader in landscape and ecosystem restoration. The national campaign seeks to deliver measurable economic, social, and environmental benefits through a coordinated government and societal effort.
According to Kenya News Agency, Dr. Barasa emphasized the importance of transforming Mazingira Week into a platform that goes beyond tree planting. The initiative aims to tell Kenya’s restoration story, demonstrating the economic value of healthy ecosystems while mobilizing citizens and institutions for environmental conservation. Addressing the Mazingira Week 2026 Planning Committee in Nairobi, Dr. Barasa highlighted that landscape restoration is both an environmental necessity and an investment in Kenya’s economy, supporting various sectors such as agriculture, tourism, and biodiversity.
Mazingira Week, scheduled from October 5 to 10, 2026, will conclude with the National Mazingira Day celebrations at Kiptogot Forest Station in Trans Nzoia County and the Presidential Green Challenge across counties. The campaign aims to boost the 15 Billion Tree Growing Programme, which targets a 30 percent national tree cover by 2032. Dr. Barasa called for coordinated restoration interventions, urging stakeholders to work collectively for defined restoration outcomes.
A standout event of Mazingira Week will be the Presidential Green Challenge, which plans to mobilize 200,000 Scouts and National Youth Service personnel to plant six million trees within one hour across 31 counties, aiming to meet Guinness World Records requirements. Dr. Barasa stressed the importance of timing and coordination, urging stakeholders to utilize the short-rains season for tree growing and ecosystem restoration.
The CS reiterated that Mazingira Week should reflect a comprehensive restoration agenda, including forest and mangrove restoration, agroforestry, and other ecosystem-based interventions. Technology and innovation will enhance restoration efforts, with the upgraded JazaMiti App and a new USSD platform facilitating registration and monitoring. The week will also feature aerial seeding of degraded landscapes, led by the Kenya Defence Forces and other partners, targeting 150,360 hectares.
Dr. Barasa highlighted the economic opportunities linked to the restoration agenda, emphasizing job creation and improved livelihoods, especially for youth. She cited the JazaMiti initiative as an opportunity for citizen engagement in tree growing. Drawing inspiration from countries like Ethiopia and India, she noted the importance of political leadership in advancing large-scale restoration.
The CS underscored that Kenya’s leadership under President William Ruto, a champion of environmental restoration, positions the country to develop a distinctive restoration model suitable for its diverse landscapes. Mazingira Week, she noted, is an opportunity to showcase Kenya’s leadership in restoration and climate action.
The programme will feature sector-led national activities leading up to National Mazingira Day on October 10. Dr. Barasa called for strategic communication to document and showcase Kenya’s restoration achievements, ensuring the narrative reaches citizens and the global community.
Dr. Jesse Owino, KEFRI’s Deputy Regional Director for the Rift Valley Eco-Region Forestry Research, chaired the meeting, which included committee members from various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies. Dr. Barasa urged the committee to focus on delivering measurable impacts, laying the foundation for a national culture of environmental stewardship. The campaign aims to accelerate the 15 Billion Tree Growing Programme, increase public participation, and improve monitoring and accountability of restoration efforts.
