By Eddah Waithaka
The Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, and Huawei Technologies Kenya led a major tree-growing initiative in Uplands, Limuru, on Thursday.
Government leaders, local administrators, forest managers, Community Forest Associations (CFAs), Community-Based Organizations (CBOs), and residents joined the united effort to restore endangered natural forests and strengthen climate resilience.
The initiative advances Kenya’s national ambition to grow 15 billion trees by 2032 while tackling the urgent threat to forest ecosystems. A 2024 Kenya Forest Service report reveals that Kenya loses more than 84,000 hectares of forest cover annually to deforestation, with another 15,000 hectares degrading each year.
Limuru remains one of Kenya’s critical forest landscapes. Lari Sub-County alone hosts six of Kiambu County’s eight forests, underlining the area’s ecological importance for biodiversity, water catchment protection, and environmental sustainability.
Diplomacy in Action
Speaking during the exercise, Ambassador Michael Kiboino, Secretary of Management at the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, said the initiative demonstrates how diplomacy translates into meaningful environmental action.
“Diplomacy is not confined to boardrooms and foreign missions. Today, it also expresses itself through practical action that responds to the global challenges we all share,” Kiboino said. “Environmental challenges are global in nature, and through initiatives such as this, we advance environmental diplomacy through local action that contributes meaningfully to global environmental goals.”
He added that the partnership “plants not just trees, but cultivates a lasting legacy of partnership, restoration and conservation of Mother Nature for posterity.”
Technology Giant Steps Up
Khadija Mohammed, Huawei’s Public Affairs and Media Director, said the company’s participation aligns with its sustainability agenda.
“Our support for this initiative reflects Huawei’s #Tech4All agenda, which grounds itself in using technology and partnerships to create a more inclusive and sustainable future,” Mohammed said. “We are proud to contribute to the protection and conservation of Mother Nature while supporting the Government of Kenya’s goal of growing 15 billion trees by 2032.”
She noted that grassroots empowerment and partnerships help communities strengthen climate adaptation and create lasting environmental impact.
Huawei’s support for the Limuru restoration initiative builds on the company’s broader sustainability efforts in Kenya under its #Tech4All platform. In 2025, Huawei partnered with the Kenya Wildlife Service, IUCN, and the Wildlife Research and Training Institute under the Tech4Nature initiative to deploy digital conservation tools for protecting the Kisite-Mpunguti Marine Park and Reserve. That partnership demonstrates how technology helps safeguard both terrestrial and marine ecosystems.
Local Leaders: Planting Trees Isn’t Enough
Local leaders emphasized that forest restoration depends not only on planting seedlings but on ensuring long-term survival through community stewardship.
Samuel Kariuki, Deputy County Commissioner for Lari, noted that collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs has continued since 2024 and has strengthened restoration efforts in the region.
“We now need to move beyond tree planting to tree growing through consistent follow-up, monitoring and community involvement, because true success measures itself by survival and sustainability,” Kariuki said.
Community representatives highlighted the direct connection between healthy forests, rivers, and livelihoods.
Tom Kimani, Chairman of the Uplands Community Forest Association (CFA), said conservation efforts help reverse destructive practices while protecting communities downstream.
“River conservation and restoration is critical to the survival of communities downstream,” Kimani said. “Before the reforestation efforts began, charcoal burning was widespread, but today we see positive change through collective action.”
He added that more than 2,600 CFA and CBO members actively nurture and safeguard forests in the area.
Kimani also underscored the importance of indigenous species in restoration programmes.
“Indigenous trees remain the best choice for conservation and agro-forestry because they protect our ecosystems while also creating sustainable benefits for local communities,” he said.
He noted that through the Tree Establishment and Livelihood Improvement Scheme, implemented in partnership with CFAs, communities benefit from improved household incomes while contributing to ecosystem restoration.
A Model for Multi-Stakeholder Action
The event reinforced the growing importance of multi-stakeholder collaboration in addressing environmental challenges through local action. By combining public sector leadership, private sector support, and community participation, the Limuru initiative demonstrates how partnerships help secure Kenya’s natural heritage for future generations.
