Kenya’s tree-planting drive struggles as budget falls behind

Kenya’s plan to plant 15 billion trees by 2032 is facing serious challenges as funding shortfalls threaten the government’s ability to meet its target of increasing the country’s forest cover to 30 per cent.

New figures reveal that by June this year, only Sh4 billion had been allocated to the programme, representing less than 1 per cent of the estimated Sh500 billion needed over the decade.

This leaves a gap of more than Sh100 billion in just two years, raising questions about the viability of a strategy that depends on private companies and lenders to fund over 60 per cent of the costs.

Launched in 2022, the initiative is split into two major projects: a Sh200 billion programme under the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) and a Sh300 billion plan focused on tree planting and rangeland recovery.

According to the Controller of Budget (CoB), only Sh507.6 million went into the tree and rangeland restoration programme during the year ending June 2025, while the KFS project did not receive any funding.

“The original budgetary allocation to the State Department for Forestry in FY 2024/2025 amounted to Sh13.06 billion, revised to Sh12.22 billion in Supplementary Estimates III, compared to Sh13.53 billion allocated in FY 2023/24,” CoB Margaret Nyakang’o reported.

Her office also noted that 75,789 seedlings were produced and 116 hectares of seed sources were maintained in the year.

The KFS five-year plan for 2023–2027 estimates that Sh218 billion will be required to drive tree-growing and forest restoration.

This includes producing 15.5 billion seedlings, rehabilitating degraded forests, and fencing natural forests. Of this, eight billion seedlings are expected from partners, 1.6 billion from KFS, two billion from other State agencies, and four billion from private nurseries.

However, KFS expects the government to provide less than a quarter of the total requirement, with Sh49.7 billion projected from the exchequer.

“Thus, resources required to fully implement the strategic plan operations are insufficient,” the agency noted.

To close the gap, KFS plans several strategies to mobilise resources.

“Among the strategies are lobbying the government and National Assembly to increase funding to the Service, enhancing revenue generation from internal sources, targeted engagement with development partners and taking advantage of emerging funding opportunities,” the document states.

In February this year, President William Ruto claimed that Kenya planted 750 million trees in 2024.

In an Annual Address to Heads of Mission and International Organisations, Ruto intimated that the ambitious achievement was realised through the Kenya National Tree Growing Restoration Campaign launched on December 21, 2022.

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The campaign targets planting 15 billion trees by 2032 to combat climate change, with every Kenyan expected to plant 30 trees a year.

"Kenya remains committed to collaborating with like-minded nations to push the climate agenda forward. In 2024, our efforts led to the planting and growing of 750 million trees,” Ruto stated.

The Head of State further noted that Kenya will continue championing equitable climate financing and ensuring that Africa remains central in global climate discussions.