KIAMBU, Kenya — Kenya’s plan to grow 15 billion trees by 2032 is moving from policy to implementation, with significant progress reported in the expansion of the Kinale Tree Nursery in Kiambu County.
The project, being implemented by the Kenya Forest Service (KFS), will increase seedling production at the facility from 200,000 to eight million annually once fully operational.
The expanded nursery was inspected on Friday by the Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF), Alex Lemarkoko, who expressed satisfaction with the pace of work and urged officers involved to sustain momentum to ensure timely completion.
According to KFS, the expansion represents a forty-fold increase in production capacity and is expected to play a critical role in supplying quality seedlings for national tree-growing programmes.
The project forms part of the government’s broader environmental restoration and climate resilience agenda, anchored in the commitment to grow 15 billion trees nationwide by 2032.
To support operations at the nursery, the State Department for Housing is constructing barracks to accommodate up to 400 youths from the National Youth Service (NYS). The move follows a directive by President William Ruto aimed at ensuring readily available labour for large-scale seedling production.
KFS has also partnered with the Athi Water Works Development Agency (AWWDA) to address water constraints at the facility. The two agencies plan to construct a borehole at the nursery to ensure sustainable irrigation and uninterrupted seedling production.
During the inspection, Lemarkoko described the Kinale Nursery as a strategic national investment, noting its importance to environmental conservation, climate change mitigation, and sustainable development.
“This facility is central to the success of the national tree-growing programme and the restoration of degraded ecosystems,” he said.
The CCF was accompanied by Deputy Chief Conservator of Forests in charge of Natural Forests Beatrice Mbula, his personal assistant Evans Maneno, and local KFS officers overseeing the project.
Once completed, the Kinale Tree Nursery is expected to serve as a major regional hub for seedling production, supporting afforestation, reforestation, and community-based tree planting initiatives across the country.
