Mazingira Day: Gov't seeks to mobilise 200,000 Kenyans to plant 6 million trees in one hour

The government is seeking to mobilise 200,000 Kenyans to plant six million trees within one hour on Saturday, October 10, as the country marks Mazingira Day.

The initiative, dubbed the Green Challenge, is part of activities lined up for Mazingira Week, which runs from October 5 to 10, and is aimed at accelerating the country's ambitious target of growing 15 billion trees by 2032.

In a Cabinet despatch issued after a meeting chaired by President William Ruto on Friday, the government reaffirmed its commitment to tree growing, ecosystem restoration and climate action through a coordinated, whole-of-government approach.

The planned tree-planting drive is expected to mobilise Kenyans across the country to participate in environmental conservation efforts as the government steps up measures to restore degraded landscapes and strengthen resilience against climate change.

Cabinet also reviewed plans to restore 462,299 hectares of degraded landscapes under Phase III of the Green Zones Development Support Project.

The meeting further approved additional financing for the Financing Locally-Led Climate Action Programme, which supports community-driven climate investments across all 47 counties.

The programme is intended to strengthen communities' capacity to withstand climate-related shocks, including droughts and floods, by supporting locally led adaptation and resilience initiatives.

Cabinet also considered measures to enhance the conservation and restoration of mangrove forests, citing their role in protecting coastlines, supporting fisheries and sustaining livelihoods in coastal communities.

The environmental initiatives form part of the government's broader climate action agenda, which seeks to increase tree cover, rehabilitate degraded ecosystems and strengthen the country's response to climate-related challenges.

Separately, Cabinet adopted the National Insurance Policy, 2026, aimed at making insurance more affordable and accessible, particularly for farmers, informal sector workers and small businesses.

The policy seeks to address Kenya's low insurance penetration, which stands at 2.45 per cent, through reforms targeting consumer protection, stronger regulatory oversight, fair business practices and the fight against insurance fraud.

It also proposes expanding digital insurance services to improve access to coverage among underserved populations.