Minet plants 20,000 trees in Kiambu in ongoing reforestation drive

The tree planting drive comes at a time when Kenya continues to face rapid deforestation. According to the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) 2024 Forest Status Report, the country loses around 84,716 hectares of forest annually, with a further 14,934 hectares degraded each year. The environmental and economic costs are high, with forest loss estimated to cost the country KSh534 billion annually.

“The drivers of deforestation are clear, and so are its devastating impacts—from biodiversity loss and soil erosion to food insecurity and climate volatility. This is, therefore, not just an environmental issue, but a humanitarian one and one that requires urgent attention,” said Minet CEO Sammy Muthui.

The firm’s reforestation efforts support the national Forest Ecosystem Landscape Restoration Strategy, which aims to plant 15 billion trees and restore 10.6 million hectares of degraded land by 2032. It also aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 15, which promotes the sustainable use of forests and terrestrial ecosystems.

Minet planted 26,000 trees in 2023 before pausing its activities in 2024 due to a landslide at the planned site. Planting resumed this year following clearance from KFS.

This year’s planting event involved over 100 local community members who helped prepare the land and pledged to care for the seedlings. Once mature, the newly planted trees are expected to provide enough oxygen for more than 10,000 people annually and absorb over 440,000 kilograms of carbon dioxide.

The 2025 Economic Survey by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics reports a significant increase in national reforestation efforts, with newly planted areas rising to 4,900 hectares in 2024, up from 2,400 hectares the year before.