Kibabii University, in partnership with Safaricom and other stakeholders, on Thursday, 21st May 2026 conducted a tree planting exercise in Kopsiro Sub County as part of ongoing efforts to promote environmental conservation, ecosystem restoration, and climate action. The exercise planted over 5,000 trees within the designated area, contributing to the broader national environmental restoration agenda aligned with Kenya’s target of planting 15 billion trees by the year 2032.
Earlier in the day, Safaricom environmentalist Owen Ombima paid a courtesy call to the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Isaac Ipara Odeo, to discuss the ongoing collaboration between Kibabii University and Safaricom in advancing environmental conservation and sustainability initiatives.
The initiative forms part of Safaricom’s broader multi-pillar environmental sustainability strategy aimed at achieving Net Zero carbon emissions by 2050. Through its Biodiversity Restoration Programme, the company has committed KES 15 million toward mitigating the environmental impact associated with network expansion activities. The programme seeks to plant 250,000 indigenous and fruit trees across 7,000 locations hosting Safaricom’s Base Transceiver Stations (BTS) over a two-year period. Implemented in collaboration with both public and private institutions, the initiative aims to balance the growing demand for digital connectivity with environmental responsibility and biodiversity conservation.
The Kopsiro tree planting exercise brought together a wide range of stakeholders from educational institutions, as well as the public and private sectors, reflecting a strong spirit of collaboration in advancing environmental sustainability. Among those present were representatives from the national government, officers from the County Commissioner’s office, the Area Chief, officials from the Ministry of Education, and the Sub-County Director of the Teachers Service Commission (TSC). They were joined by members of the Kopsiro community who also actively participated in the exercise, demonstrating a shared commitment to environmental stewardship.
Kibabii University was represented at the exercise by the Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration, Finance and Development), Prof. John Makokha, who attended on behalf of the Vice Chancellor. He was accompanied by University staff and students who actively participated in the tree planting exercise.
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