A large-scale clean-up and tree-planting exercise in Kinangop North, Nyandarua County, marked this year’s Mazingira Day celebrations on Friday, advancing Kenya’s environmental restoration goals under the national 15 billion trees initiative championed by President William Ruto.
The exercise, which brought together community members, national government officials, and local leaders, aimed to reinforce the country’s commitment to a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable future.
Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano, who led the national event, described the day as a cornerstone of Kenya’s environmental stewardship and a tangible expression of the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
“Mazingira Day is a national call to action that extends beyond planting trees; it’s a commitment to securing a clean, safe, and healthy environment for all Kenyans,” said Rebecca Miano, Cabinet Secretary for Tourism and Wildlife.
She said the government’s focus is to mobilise citizens across counties to take direct responsibility for their surroundings by cleaning public spaces, planting indigenous trees, and restoring degraded ecosystems.
“By taking responsibility for our immediate surroundings, we build the foundation for a sustainable, resilient, and beautiful Kenya,” said Miano.
The Kinangop North clean-up brought together senior government officials among them Principal Secretary for Roads, Eng. Joseph Mbugua, and area Member of Parliament Thuku Kwenya, alongside hundreds of residents and civil society groups.
Thousands of tree seedlings were planted along key road corridors and public institutions, aligning with the government’s broader plan to plant 15 billion trees by 2032.
Miano said the activity illustrates how environmental protection and economic empowerment are intertwined, linking local action to national prosperity.
“A clean environment and a thriving economy are inseparable. Let us nurture these seedlings to grow and bloom,” she said, adding that environmental restoration remains central to the government’s climate action strategy.
The Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife has positioned environmental conservation as a vital component of Kenya’s tourism competitiveness, connecting reforestation, waste management, and sustainable land use to the long-term resilience of tourism assets such as parks, reserves, and nature-based destinations.
Officials from Nyandarua County noted that such collaborative efforts between communities and national institutions are helping to address challenges of waste accumulation, deforestation, and climate-related degradation that affect both livelihoods and infrastructure.
The participation of residents was seen as a model for local ownership in implementing national environmental policies.
The Mazingira Day event forms part of an ongoing nationwide campaign encouraging counties to integrate environmental action into local development agendas.
Activities across the country focused on cleaning public spaces, rehabilitating rivers, and promoting recycling initiatives in schools and markets.
As the day concluded, Miano urged Kenyans to sustain the spirit of Mazingira Day beyond the ceremonial activities.
“Let us carry the spirit of Mazingira Day forward by ensuring our commitment to cleanliness and environmental protection lasts long after today,” she said.
The annual event, which is anchored in Kenya’s National Environment Policy, has grown into a platform for civic participation in climate action, reinforcing the message that national transformation begins with community-level stewardship.
