More than 600 clergy members from across Kisumu County, in collaboration with civil society groups, convened in Muhoroni to launch an ambitious faith-based environmental initiative aimed at planting 1.5 million trees within a year. The campaign, spearheaded by the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) in partnership with Mazingira na Jamii Afrika, seeks to mobilize faith communities to take the lead in environmental restoration.
Bishop Dr. Clement Otieno, NCCK Kisumu County Chairman and a regional faith leader under the Steward of Grace network, said the effort marks a new chapter in faith-led climate action.
“Today, we came together as clergy, over 600 from all denominations, to launch this tree-planting journey. It will take time, but the goal is clear: 1.5 million trees,” said Dr. Otieno, speaking to the press at the launch in Muhoroni Sub-County.
To kickstart the campaign, 50 symbolic trees were planted on-site, with another 10,000 scheduled for planting next week, thanks to a partnership with KCB Bank, which donated the seedlings. The broader strategy will involve mobilizing church members, with clergy overseeing the distribution and planting of trees across congregations and local schools.
“We are working through 360 Steward of Grace clergy who will ensure that every church member receives and plants at least one tree at their home,” Otieno said. “Schools will also be involved to ensure widespread participation.”
Dr. Jennifer Otieno, Chairperson of Mazingira na Jamii Afrika, emphasized the crucial role clergy can play in environmental advocacy due to their grassroots influence and reach within communities.
“Clergy are often left out of restoration programs, yet they interact with all segments of society, women, men, children, even widows,” she said. “We realized that working through them would be the most effective way to take the message of environmental restoration into homes and communities.”
Dr. Otieno explained that the initiative was conceptualized over a year and a half ago, after fruitful discussions with KCB Bank’s faith engagement program in Nairobi. The collaboration aims to empower clergy as environmental champions, equipping them with both seedlings and the responsibility of stewardship.
The campaign comes at a pivotal moment for Kenya’s climate ambitions. The national government has committed to increasing forest and tree cover to 30% by 2032, part of a larger goal of planting 15 billion trees in a decade. According to the 2021 National Forest Resource Assessment, Kenya’s tree cover stands at just 12.13%.
Programs like this one, rooted in local ownership and community-driven action, are key to reaching interim goals such as 21.03% tree cover by 2027 under the national 15 Billion Tree Growing Programme.
“Restoring degraded land is not just about planting trees, it’s about community ownership,” added Dr. Jennifer Otieno. “By involving clergy, we ensure the restoration effort touches every household.”
The Kisumu County faith-based environmental action is expected to serve as a model for similar campaigns across Kenya, as faith groups increasingly take a central role in addressing the climate crisis.
