Government Scales Up Seedling Production to Power Ruto’s 15-Billion-Tree Agenda

By Kepher Otieno - Reporter

Kenya, 8 January 2026 - The government’s ambitious plan to plant 15 billion trees by 2032 is increasingly taking concrete shape, with Environment Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa pointing to large-scale seedling production as the backbone of President William Ruto’s climate and environmental legacy.

Speaking during an assessment of the Kinale Forest tree nursery in Lari, Kiambu County, Barasa said the State is deliberately scaling up nursery capacity to ensure a steady and reliable supply of seedlings across the country.

The eight-acre Kinale facility alone is expected to produce eight million seedlings annually, positioning it as a key pillar in the national reforestation strategy.

“We are scaling up seedling production across the country to support the President’s 15-billion-tree agenda,” CS Barasa said, noting that the focus has shifted from symbolic tree-planting exercises to building sustainable production systems.

“Our goal is to make sure that when Kenyans are ready to plant, the seedlings are available, healthy and suitable for their ecological zones.”

At the national level, the numbers illustrate the scale of the undertaking. According to the CS, 300 nurseries are currently producing about 600 million seedlings, while 17 mega nurseries are generating an additional one billion seedlings every year. The expanded network is designed to address chronic shortages that have historically undermined mass tree-planting campaigns.

Beyond environmental restoration, the programme carries significant economic and political weight. By industrialising seedling production, the government aims to create jobs for youth and community forest associations, while strengthening Kenya’s standing in global climate action and carbon financing discussions.

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The Kinale Forest project is also symbolically important. Once under pressure from encroachment, the forest now represents a shift from reactive conservation to proactive regeneration. Turning it into a high-capacity nursery hub signals a policy direction that prioritises long-term ecosystem recovery over short-term interventions.

However, the scale of ambition has drawn scrutiny from environmental experts who warn that seedling production alone will not guarantee success. Land availability, community ownership, and post-planting care remain critical factors in determining survival rates. Barasa acknowledged these challenges, insisting that monitoring and community participation are being integrated into the programme.

“This is not just about planting trees; it is about growing forests that will last,” she said, adding that partnerships with counties, schools, faith-based organisations and the private sector are being strengthened.

As climate shocks intensify across the country, the 15-billion-tree agenda is emerging as both an environmental necessity and a political test.

or the Ruto administration, facilities like the Kinale nursery offer a tangible measure of progress—where policy intent is translated into rows of seedlings and the promise of a greener future.