First Lady Rachel Ruto on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, rallied close to one million learners from across Kenya's 47 counties to actively engage in environmental conservation through the First Lady's Mazingira Awards (FLAMA) 2025. Speaking at State House, Nakuru, during the awards ceremony, Mrs. Ruto urged schoolchildren to utilise the ongoing rainy seasons for tree planting to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change.

The FLAMA programme, launched in 2023, seeks to provide a platform for young Kenyans to learn, appreciate, and lead in environmental matters. It has since expanded to over 2,000 schools, nurturing a new generation of environmental champions.

Contextualising Kenya's Green Ambition

This initiative by the First Lady complements President William Ruto's broader 'Jaza Miti' programme, which aims to plant 15 billion trees by 2032 to achieve 30% tree cover across Kenya. As of April 2025, Kenya had planted approximately 783 million trees under the National Tree Growing Restoration Campaign. The government has set an ambitious target of planting 100 million trees on Thursday, October 10, 2025, designated as Mazingira Day, with a significant focus on planting 71.1 million fruit tree seedlings in public and private primary schools nationwide.

Migration Framework with Russia

In a separate but concurrent development, Kenya and Russia are working to formalise a framework for regular migration. This move aims to protect Kenyan nationals from exploitation, particularly concerning irregular conscriptions into the Russian military amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing'Oei held bilateral talks with Russian Ambassador Vsevolod Tkachenko in Nairobi on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, where both parties agreed to expedite the conclusion of this framework.

The formalised migration framework is expected to establish structured, transparent, and legal pathways for labour mobility, safeguarding citizens from predatory recruitment schemes. Russia has reportedly assured Kenya of its zero-tolerance policy towards involuntary recruitment of foreign nationals into its security forces. This follows reports of Kenyans fighting for Russia, with at least three repatriations already confirmed by early October 2025.

Laws, Policy, and Governance

Kenya's commitment to environmental conservation is enshrined in various legal frameworks, including the Kenya Forest Policy 2014, Land Act 2012, and the Forest Conservation and Management Act (2016). The country's National Adaptation Plan (NAP) 2015-2030, which builds on the National Climate Change Response Strategy (2010) and the National Climate Change Action Plan (2013-2017), prioritises climate change adaptation. The NAP aims to integrate adaptation into national and county-level development planning and budgeting processes, enhancing the resilience of vulnerable populations to climate shocks.

Regarding migration, Kenya has several policy frameworks, including the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act, the National Migration Policy Draft, and the National Labour Migration Policy Draft. The proposed National Migration Policy 2019 is currently at the Cabinet level for consideration, aiming to provide a comprehensive approach to migration governance.

Stakeholders and Testimonies

The First Lady's environmental initiatives, such as the MaMa Fruit Gardens, have seen over 135 schools establish fruit gardens, promoting environmental stewardship and nutrition. Her office also launched the First Lady Environment & Climate Change Challenge in 2023 to cultivate eco-consciousness among young Kenyans. The Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, the Kenya Forest Service, and various development partners are actively involved in supporting these initiatives.

The formalisation of the migration framework with Russia is a direct response to concerns raised by Kenyan citizens and reports of human trafficking networks promising lucrative jobs in Russia but funnelling individuals into military service. A recruitment ring in Athi River has already been busted, and an inquiry into these networks has been launched.

Evidence and Data

• Tree Planting Target: Kenya aims to plant 15 billion trees by 2032 to achieve 30% tree cover.
• Trees Planted to Date: Approximately 1.06 billion trees have been planted since December 2022.
• Mazingira Day 2025 Target: 100 million trees, with 71.1 million fruit tree seedlings for primary schools.
• First Lady's Initiative Target: 500 million trees by 2032.
• Schools Engaged by FLAMA: Over 2,000 schools, reaching nearly one million learners.
• Household Air Pollution Deaths: 23,000 annually in Kenya, with women and children most affected (World Health Organisation).

Risks and Implications

The success of Kenya's ambitious tree-planting targets hinges on sustained resource allocation and effective implementation. In the 2022/23 and 2023/24 financial years, allocations for forest conservation fell short of the projected Ksh 60 billion annually required for the ten-year campaign. Critics also point to potential flaws in policy, such as the lifting of logging bans and the planting of exotic species, which could jeopardise indigenous tree ecosystems.

The formalisation of the migration framework with Russia is critical to preventing further exploitation and irregular conscription of Kenyan nationals. Without clear legal pathways, vulnerable individuals remain susceptible to human trafficking and forced military service.

Unknowns and Controversies

While the government aims to plant 100 million trees on Mazingira Day, the logistical challenges of distributing 71.1 million fruit tree seedlings to over 35,000 primary schools and ensuring their nurturing remain significant. The long-term survival rate of planted trees is also a key concern, as past campaigns have faced challenges in ensuring trees reach maturity.

The exact number of Kenyans currently fighting in the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the full extent of human trafficking networks involved remain unclear, despite ongoing investigations.

Timeline and Next Steps

• Wednesday, October 8, 2025: First Lady Rachel Ruto presides over Mazingira Awards 2025 in Nakuru.
• Thursday, October 9, 2025: President William Ruto hosts COMESA Heads of State and Government in Nairobi.
• Thursday, October 10, 2025: Mazingira Day, a national public holiday dedicated to tree planting and environmental clean-up, with a target of 100 million trees.
• By 2032: Target to plant 15 billion trees nationally and 500 million trees under the First Lady's initiative.

What to Watch

The effectiveness of the new migration framework between Kenya and Russia will be closely watched, particularly its impact on reducing irregular conscriptions and protecting Kenyan citizens abroad. Domestically, the success of Mazingira Day and the sustained efforts towards the 15 billion tree target will be crucial indicators of Kenya's commitment to climate action. The implementation of the Forest Conservation and Management Bill 2025, currently being finalised, is also expected to strengthen forest resource governance and attract private investment.