Eldoret: The State Department for Correctional Services commemorated World Environment Day 2026 with a tree planting exercise at the Eldoret Main GK Prison, where more than 2,500 trees were planted.
According to Kenya News Agency, the exercise was led by the Principal Secretary, Dr. Salome Beacco, and included participation from students at the Eldoret GK Prison Senior School, National Government Administrative officers, as well as officers from the Kenya Prisons Service and Probation and Aftercare Service. Dr. Beacco stated that the initiative is part of ongoing efforts by the Department to support global efforts to leverage nature-based solutions to combat the adverse effects of climate change.
Dr. Beacco emphasized the importance of reforestation, particularly on lands within the Department’s purview. On World Environment Day, 2,500 trees were planted in Eldoret Prison using a multi-agency approach. The Department is committed to supporting the national goal of planting and growing 15 billion trees by 2032, as championed by President Dr. William Ruto, in efforts to drive environmental sustainability.
She urged Kenyans to adopt reforestation and take responsibility for combating climate change while restoring nature. Beyond planting indigenous trees to restore ecosystems, she encouraged the planting of fruit trees to ensure environmental conservation translates into livelihood benefits.
The Department has reclaimed swampy areas in the Eldoret Prisons land and planted an orchard of 500 avocado seedlings, with plans to increase the number to over 2,000, benefitting students, inmates, and officers at the correctional facility.
Dr. Beacco mentioned that every month, the Department grows more trees across all 135 prison stations and 148 probation stations in the country, affirming their commitment to ensuring that the Greening Kenya initiative is successfully implemented by the state department. She highlighted that every first Thursday of the month is dedicated to tree planting, with significant efforts already in place, such as planting trees along the fence of the 400-acre Eldoret Lumumba farm.
Dr. Beacco encouraged public involvement, urging government institutions and other stakeholders to visit correctional services for access to quality tree seedlings at low cost. The Department plans to donate tree and fruit seedlings to schools, hospitals, and TVETs at affordable prices, sourcing seeds from the Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI) to ensure quality control.
The State Department has been at the forefront of environmental conservation, engaging in large-scale tree planting and seedling production. The World Environment Day 2026, with the theme “Inspired by Nature. For Climate. For Our Future,” highlights the urgent need to look to nature-based solutions to combat climate change, repair ecosystems, and rethink global economic systems.
