Church Collaborates with Kenyan Community to Donate 20,000 Fruit Trees

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On Thursday, July 31, 2025, the national Trees for Food project was launched in Kisumu, Kenya, with the donation of 20,000 mango, avocado and orange seedlings. 

Presiding at the event was Kisumu County Commissioner Benson Leparmorijo. Also in attendance were Elder George Munene, Area Seventy; Kisumu District President, Peter Okeno Akal; First Counselor in the Nairobi West Mission Presidency, Kennedy Okila Angalwa; Denis Mukasa, Africa Central Area Humanitarian Manager; Tim Wanynoni and Ronald Kivi, communication leaders for the Kenyan Correlating Council; and area communication missionaries.

Nationally, the Church will donate 120,00 fruit trees to be planted in counties throughout Kenya to provide food and income for the recipients and to improve the environment. 

“This is a national fruit tree planting project, and we are proud to begin in Kisumu,” said Elder Munene. “Fruit trees are vital, not only for meeting nutritional needs, but also for creating income-generating opportunities and restoring our natural ecosystems.” 

Commissioner Benson Leparmorijo welcomed the initiative, terming it a timely act of goodwill. 

“One of the key hurdles in achieving our national and county tree planting targets has been access to seedlings and space for nursery development. This donation is a game-changer,” he said, explaining that the seedlings have already been allocated to multiple stakeholders, including his office, the Kenya Forest Service (KFS), the National Youth Service, Kenya Prisons, the County Government, Ecumenical Centre for Justice and the Interfaith Council.

Kenya Forest Service (KFS) Kisumu County Conservator Vitalis Osodo noted that Kisumu’s seedling production is currently too low to meet the targets set under the national 15 billion tree programme.

“We are supposed to raise at least 9.1 million seedlings annually, but we don’t have the capacity,” he said. “That’s why this kind of support from partners like the Church is so critical. It boosts our production and helps us get closer to our targets.” 

Osodo said KFS will work with other agencies to ensure the donated seedlings are well-planted and monitored.

Kisumu County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Agriculture, Kenneth Onyango, said the initiative fits well with the county’s ongoing strategy to promote fruit farming. “This synchronizes perfectly with our vision. Just two weeks ago, we received 5,000 seedlings from the national government. With this new donation, we’re more determined to promote fruit tree growing, both for nutrition and income generation,” Onyango said.

He assured the Church that the county would mobilize community groups, schools and extension officers to ensure the trees are planted in suitable locations and are well cared for.