The government has recently invited private investors and stakeholders to manage and develop the country’s forestry sector. This will be achieved through Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), aiming to save KSh 2.7 billion on tree planting costs. The Forest Conservation and Management (Concessions on Public Forests) Regulations, 2025, suggest a framework for the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) to collaborate with private entities in establishing commercial tree plantations on public land through concession agreements.

Although the Forest Conservation and Management Act already provides for concessions, the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry notes that their implementation has been limited due to the lack of supporting subsidiary legislation. Concessions permit individuals or organisations to utilise designated areas within national or county forests under long-term contractual arrangements. Existing examples include Kibwezi and Ngare Ndare forests, which are managed through partnerships between KFS and conservation groups for ecotourism and sustainable forest management.

This relates to Kenya’s tree planting initiative, led by President William Ruto’s National Tree Growing Restoration Campaign. This ambitious plan aims to plant 15 billion trees by 2032, increasing forest cover to 30%. The programme seeks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, halt and reverse deforestation, and restore 5.1 million hectares of deforested and degraded landscapes through the African Landscape Restoration Initiative, launched on 22 December 2022.

In celebration of Mazingira Day on 10 October 2025, the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, and Forestry has encouraged all Kenyans to discover their primary school origins in order to donate and assist in planting fruit trees. The government aims to plant 100 million fruit trees each year, budgeting KSh 1 trillion over three years.

The government actively promotes partnerships with corporations, community groups, and tourists for its “15 Billion Trees” initiative. Notably, KCB Group and Safaricom Plc published their sustainability reports on 7 October 2025, detailing their contributions to this initiative.  

The 2024 KCB Group Sustainability Report emphasises the bank’s ongoing investment in clean energy, climate adaptation, and inclusive development. The report details KCB’s assessment of KSh 578.3 billion in loans for environmental and social risks last year. This has contributed to a cumulative KSh 2.5 trillion since 2020, according to the bank’s Environmental and Social Due Diligence (ESDD) process. The Group reduced its carbon footprint by 4% through conservation measures, offsetting 1.3 metric tonnes of carbon equivalent by planting 1.38 million trees. In line with this, KCB aims to plant 1.5 million trees by 2028 under its Linda Miti initiative, having planted over 314,129 trees in 2023. Through Linda Miti, KCB collaborates with schools to promote environmental conservation and the growth of trees to maturity.

On the other hand, Safaricom Plc’s 2025 Sustainable Business Report highlights the company’s commitment to climate action, digital inclusion, circular economy initiatives, and ethical governance. The company aims to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 while promoting economic opportunities through recycling, digital skills development, and inclusive financing. Additionally, Safaricom has planted over 2.3 million trees as part of its commitment to grow five million trees by 2030, in line with its efforts to achieve net zero by 2050. The firm aims to offset 26% of its carbon emissions and has partnered with the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) and local communities to reach this goal. 

When examining the government’s efforts to meet its ambitious tree-planting goals, many eyebrows have been raised due to recent controversies that have negatively impacted forest governance in the country. Civil society organisations such as Friends of Karura Forest (FKF) have voiced concerns over the Kenya Forest Service’s (KFS) unilateral decision to assume control of forest management. Key issues include increased entry fees, the potential loss of jobs for community staff and rangers, disruptions to conservation and education programmes, and infrastructure projects like new tarmacked roads that could damage the forest ecosystem. 

Examining the new proposed PPP approach, some concerns have emerged that increased private sector involvement could result in the commercialisation or privatisation of forest resources, favouring profit over conservation. This approach might also contribute to the carbon credit boom in Kenya, which has already raised its own concerns. 

This highlights the issue of the Northern Kenya Rangelands Carbon Project scandal. This project is reportedly the world’s largest soil carbon initiative. Earlier this year, in January, a Kenyan court ruled that two of the largest conservancies established by the Northern Rangelands Trust (NRT) were created unlawfully, citing human rights violations and insufficient public participation. 

While the new approach is commendable, it unfortunately comes at a time when public distrust in the country’s governance is heightened. The initiative, in its own right, would help safeguard the country’s sustainable development. As this should be examined openly, we must all remain vigilant and hold all stakeholders accountable as we work towards securing Kenya’s green future.