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When 180 people — from primary school children in their green club T-shirts to elderly grandmothers with soil on their hands — gather on a Saturday morning to plant trees, you know something meaningful is happening in a community.
That was the scene across three sites in Mwiki Sub-Location during our first tree-planting weekends in April 2026, as One Vision CBO officially launched the field activities of our Mwiki Environmental Sustainability Project with an ambitious opening act: 320 trees planted in two weekends.
Why Trees? Why Now?
Mwiki, like much of Nairobi's peri-urban belt, has experienced significant deforestation as the area has urbanised rapidly over the past two decades. Green cover that once provided shade, reduced flooding, and improved air quality has given way to concrete, iron sheets, and paved pathways. The consequences are felt daily — hotter temperatures, faster runoff during rains, and the psychological toll of living in a grey, treeless environment.
Our tree planting campaign is a direct community response to this loss. Working with the Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI) to select appropriate species, we chose a deliberate mix of indigenous trees for biodiversity, fruit trees (mango, avocado, guava) that will eventually supplement household nutrition, and shade trees for community gathering spaces and school yards.
Sites Covered in Phase 1
- Mwiki Primary School: 120 trees planted in the school compound and along the perimeter fence, tended by the school's newly formed Green Club of 45 students
- Mwiki Community Centre Grounds: 80 trees planted, creating a shaded community garden and meeting space
- Footpath Corridors (3 routes): 120 trees planted at regular intervals along three main pedestrian routes through Mwiki, providing shade for daily commuters
Survival Rates and Ongoing Care
Three months after planting, our monitoring team conducted a survival assessment. Of the 320 trees planted, 291 — a 91% survival rate — were alive and growing well. The 29 losses were mostly in areas with insufficient shade during the driest weeks of May; these have since been replanted with more drought-tolerant species.
Each planting site has a designated Tree Guardian — a volunteer community member responsible for watering, protecting against livestock, and reporting concerns. School Green Club members manage their trees as part of their club activities, building lifelong environmental stewardship habits.
Phase 2: 680 More Trees by December 2026
To meet our 1,000-tree target, Phase 2 plantings are scheduled for July (long rains) and October (short rains) 2026 — the optimal seasons for new tree establishment. We are seeking nursery sponsorships and volunteers for these planting days. If your organisation or school would like to sponsor a tree planting event in Mwiki, contact us today.