Mombasa joined the rest of the country in marking this year’s Environment Day with a tree planting exercise held at Tom Mboya Primary School, under the theme ‘Citizen-Centric Tree Growing and Environmental Stewardship’.
The event was led by the Secretary Administration at the State Department for Mining, David Onyancha, who represented Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho.
Onyancha said the national celebrations sought to promote tree growing both in public spaces and private homesteads to help achieve the government’s target of 15 billion trees by 2032 and a 30 per cent national tree cover.
“As Kenyans, we must plant trees not only in forests but also in our homes and gardens. We have gathered here today with our pupils to create a better environment for future generations by reducing the effects of climate change,” he said.
The Ministry of Blue Economy and Mining donated 210 fruit seedlings to Tom Mboya Boys Primary School, 100 fruit seedlings to Central Girls Primary School, and 200 indigenous tree seedlings to the Huduma Centre Mombasa.
Onyancha emphasised the need for collaboration among Kenyans in tree growing and maintenance, adding, “We are not only planting trees but also growing and nurturing them to maturity. The spirit of Mazingira Day is that together we plant, together we grow, and together we build the future we want,” he added.
He commended the local administration for supporting the event and noted that since Tom Mboya Primary shares limited space with two other schools, the seedlings would be distributed to parents and pupils for planting in their homes.
During the celebration, pupils from Tom Mboya and Central Girls Primary schools presented poems, songs, and dances highlighting environmental conservation and the importance of tree planting.
Mvita Sub-County Director of Education, Ali Hussein Abdi, encouraged residents to take part in the Turudi Primo initiative by planting fruit trees in their former primary schools to enhance nutrition, improve school environments, cool local climates, and restore biodiversity.
He said the initiative also symbolises renewal and community participation in environmental restoration efforts.
By Sitati Reagan
