MoE orders counties to account for trees planted during Mazingira Day

The Ministry of Education (MoE) has directed county and sub-county education officials to submit detailed reports on trees planted during this year's Mazingira Day celebrations, as the government steps up efforts to achieve its 15 billion tree-growing target.

In a circular dated October 12, 2026, the State Department for Basic Education instructed all County Directors of Education and their sub-county counterparts to account for trees planted in their areas during the October 10 environmental conservation activities.

The officials are required to provide consolidated data on the number of trees planted, species used, planting sites and the level of public participation. They have been asked to submit the information in a prescribed format that also captures each sub-county's tree-planting target.

The ministry said the exercise forms part of the government's commitment to the 15 Billion Tree Growing Programme under the National Landscape and Ecosystem Restoration Programme, which runs from 2023 to 2032. The initiative seeks to increase Kenya's tree cover, restore degraded landscapes and promote environmental sustainability.

According to the circular, schools, public institutions, farms and degraded areas were among the priority sites identified for planting appropriate tree species. The ministry also stressed the importance of community participation, with education institutions expected to contribute to the national restoration agenda.

The data will help the government assess the outcome of the Mazingira Day exercise and establish the contribution of schools and local communities to the national tree-growing programme.

The circular, signed by Stephen Sugut on behalf of the Principal Secretary, set today, October 15, as the deadline for submission of the reports through designated email addresses.

The directive places education administrators at the centre of efforts to track the country's tree-growing campaign, with schools and other learning institutions expected to promote environmental awareness and sustainable land management.