Kenya's UN-Habitat Permanent Representative Susan Nakhumicha on Friday led a tree planting exercise at Baraton Primary School in Trans Nzoia County to commemorate Mazingira Day.
The event marked a return to her roots, as Nakhumicha sat for her Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) at the school in 1992.
In line with President William Ruto’s national tree planting initiative, Nakhumicha emphasized the importance of environmental conservation, particularly within local communities and learning institutions.
“I am here not just to plant trees, but to honor a call by the President for Kenyans to return to the primary schools they attended and plant fruit trees,” she said.
She added: “I hope my presence will inspire the wider community to take responsibility for our environment.”
The initiative is part of the government’s ambitious plan to plant 15 billion trees by 2032, aiming to combat climate change and restore Kenya’s degraded ecosystems.
Nakhumicha also took the opportunity to encourage young girls at the school to pursue their dreams fearlessly.
“We want to raise resilient and inclusive communities. Part of that means showing our girls that they can grow up to be leaders in any field — including environmental conservation and international diplomacy,” she added.
The event was attended by local leaders, teachers, students, and community members, who joined in planting mature trees on the school grounds.