NAIROBI, March 26, 2025 — Java House, in collaboration with Tukalime, Munzer Kenya, and Food For Education, has launched a tree-planting initiative aimed at enhancing environmental sustainability.
The program, dubbed Trees For Tomorrow, will see 6,000 trees planted across 14 schools in Kiambu County over two days.
The initiative was launched with a tree-planting event at Manguo Primary School in Limuru and aligns with Kenya’s national goal of planting and nurturing 15 billion trees by 2032.
Speaking at the event, Java House CEO Priscilla Gathungu reaffirmed the company’s commitment to sustainability, highlighting the role of tree planting in combating deforestation and climate change.
“We are conscious of the impact of deforestation, global warming, and climate change on communities. By engaging schools, we aim to instill a culture of sustainability in Kenya’s future leaders,” Gathungu said.
Java House has also partnered with Munzer Kenya to convert used cooking oil from its restaurants into biodiesel, a move that helped cut 148 tonnes of carbon emissions in 2024.
Munzer Kenya’s Commercial and Country Manager, Purity Simiyu, said tree-planting efforts complement ongoing sustainability initiatives by enhancing biodiversity and air quality.
“While we have made significant strides in converting used cooking oil to biodiesel, increasing green cover is equally vital for environmental sustainability,” Simiyu said.
Tukalime Managing Director Kevin Kamau emphasized the role of trees in improving soil health and agricultural productivity.
“Trees support good farming outcomes by conserving water, enriching soil, and providing shade. We encourage communities to integrate tree planting into their agricultural practices,” Kamau said.
Food For Education’s Customer Experience and Technical Operations Manager, Lyndah Ronoh, noted that the initiative reinforces both social and environmental sustainability in the schools they support.
The tree-planting drive aligns with broader reforestation efforts, including the African Union’s African Forest Landscapes Restoration Initiative, which aims to restore 100 million hectares of forest across the continent.
Kenya’s forest cover currently stands at 8.83%, according to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics. To increase this, the country targets planting at least 1.5 billion trees annually until 2032 through joint efforts from both public and private sectors.
