By Urban Shihemi , October 8, 2025 Cabinet Secretary for Environment,Climate Change & Forestry Dr. Deborah Barasa, has called on all Kenyans to mark this year’s Mazingira  Day 2025 by planting fruit trees in their former Primary Schools. Under the theme“Citizen Centric Tree Growing and Environmental Stewardship” and running under the slogan “Turudi Primo, Tukapande Miti,”. The initiative is  a way of boosting nutrition among school children and enhancing food security across the country. Speaking during a media breakfast in Nairobi to unveil the Ministry’s plans to grow over 100 million fruit trees in schools nationwide, Dr. Barasa said this year our celebration will be held under the theme, citizen-centric tree growing and environmental stewardship.  “It is a call to action for every Kenyan young and old to take personal responsibility for restoring our environment,” CS Barasa said. Over 35,000 Primary Schools including 23,831 public schools and 11,739 private schools across the country are expected to plant at least 2,000 fruit trees. “Mazingira Day is not just about planting trees it’s about caring for our environment, restoring our ecosystems, and ensuring our children have a healthier, greener future,” said Dr. Barasa. “Fruit trees will provide both nutritional and economic value while empowering community groups and seedling vendors involved in their production.” She added. Principal Secretary for Forestry Gitonga Mugambi has called on all government officials led by  Cabinet Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, and senior government officials to lead tree-growing activities in their respective former primary schools. Kenya aims to plant 15 billion trees by 2032, as part of the Jaza Miti (Fill the Trees) initiative to combat deforestation and climate change. Launched in December 2022, the program seeks to restore deforested and degraded landscapes and increase forest cover to 30%.