The State Department for Correctional Services joined global celebrations to mark this year’s World Environment Day by planting over 1,500 trees at the Nanyuki GK Prison farm, reinforcing Kenya’s national commitment to environmental conservation.
Presiding over the event, Principal Secretary Dr. Salome Beacco underscored the department’s dedication to the national target of planting 15 billion trees by 2032, a key environmental goal championed by President William Ruto. She announced that the department has institutionalized tree planting by dedicating the first Thursday of every month to this cause.
“We affirm that through the Greening Kenya Initiative and our monthly tree planting efforts, we are engaging in meaningful environmental action and shaping a new narrative — one that declares every person, regardless of their circumstances, can be part of the solution,” said Dr. Beacco.
Accompanied by senior officials including Commissioner General of Prisons Patrick Aranduh and Probation and Aftercare Services Secretary Dr. Christine Obondi, Dr. Beacco revealed that the department has already planted over six million trees nationwide.
“By planting trees, we are sowing hope, resilience, and discipline. For every tree we nurture, we send a message that restoration is possible — for the land and for the people,” she remarked. “The environment is not an external issue; it’s our issue. It’s the air we breathe, the water we drink, the peace we seek, and the future we envision.”
The PS encouraged Kenyans to prioritize the planting of fruit and medicinal trees to gain both nutritional and health benefits, and praised the multi-sectoral collaboration behind the day’s activities, which involved both state and non-state actors. So far, over 30 million tree seedlings have been issued by the department to other government agencies to bolster the national greening campaign.
In addition to the environmental efforts, Dr. Beacco officially launched the newly rehabilitated Nanyuki GK Women’s Prison, marking a significant milestone in the ongoing modernization of correctional infrastructure.
Earlier in the day, the PS led a stakeholder engagement meeting with the Probation and Aftercare Services team at a Nanyuki hotel. Held under the theme “Strengthening Community-Based Rehabilitation of Offenders through Stakeholders' Engagement,” the forum highlighted the importance of partnerships in supporting offender rehabilitation and reintegration.
Dr. Beacco reiterated the department's commitment to community-based correctional approaches, saying, “Rehabilitation is not the work of government alone. It takes communities, families, and partners to support offenders in rebuilding their lives.”
The World Environment Day event and related activities reflect the department’s holistic approach to corrections — integrating environmental stewardship with the rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders.
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