By Eddah Waithaka
The Kenyan government is calling on every citizen to pick up a seedling and a cleaning tool for this year’s Mazingira Day, championing a grassroots movement under the hashtag #TurudiPrimo.
This year’s campaign anchors itself on a simple, powerful idea: returning to our roots by donating fruit trees and cleaning our local environments.
Since its launch in December 2022, the 15 Billion Trees Growing Programme has already seen Kenyans plant over 1.06 billion trees.
“This demonstrates the collective spirit that drives our country, the belief that change begins with each of us,” said Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate change and Forestry, Deborah Barasa.
CS Barasa emphasized that Mazingira Day carries a deeper meaning. “Mazingira Day is not just about trees; it’s about people. It’s about unity, renewal and responsibility,” she stated.
“Let us go back to our roots, plant fruit trees, clean our schools and grow the future we want for Kenya.”
The government positions the day as a starting point for long-term action, directly linking it to national goals under the Bottom Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
The initiative aims to fuel green job creation, bolster a circular economy, and strengthen Kenya’s climate resilience.
This year’s celebrations will run under the theme ‘Citizen-centric tree growing and environmental stewardship.”
“It is a call to action for every Kenyan to take personal responsibility for restoring our environment,” CS Barasa said.
“It’s about more than planting trees; it’s about growing a culture of care, giving back to our communities and reconnecting with our roots.”
