Adopt A Tree For Heroes

Kakamega County Edition

Dedan Kimathi Foundation holds the sacrifices of our freedom fighters in high regard, recognizing that their unmatched patriotism was instrumental in regaining our freedom, land, and rights. We honor their bravery and selflessness by building upon their legacy.

DKF, named after the iconic Mau Mau spiritual and military leader of the 1950s, is committed to keeping his name unforgettable through humanitarianism and environmental action. We view nature conservation as a salute to our liberators.

Kimathi Festival and Environmental Action

The Dedan Kimathi Foundation and family will host the ‘KIMATHI FESTIVAL’ on October 31, 2025, to celebrate the 105th posthumous birthday of Field Marshal Dedan Kimathi. The event, taking place at the late Mama Mukami Kimathi residence in Njabini, Nyandarua County, is themed ‘CULTURE MEETS ENVIRONMENT’. This theme is a carefully chosen call to action for citizens to care for nature while also remembering their roots, with the larger goal of celebrating Kenya’s rich cultural diversity.

In this spirit, the Foundation’s environment conservation team spent two days in Lugari Sub County, Kakamega. In collaboration with the Kenya Forest Service in the subcounty, the team planted 10,000 assorted trees across 12 public learning institutions as part of the ‘ADOPT A TREE FOR HEROES’ initiative.

Tree Planting and Environmental Education

On Thursday, September 25, 2025, the initiative launched at Mwamba Comprehensive School with an opening ceremony attended by over 2,000 learners. The team conducted environmental education and climate change sensitization, highlighting the vital roles trees play in air purification and climate change mitigation. The team urged teachers to foster a culture of environmental action by ensuring learners adopt the planted trees for their survival and access seedlings to grow at their homes too. This message was reinforced by the Sub County Forester, Mr. Apillo, who stressed the need to increase tree cover to provide forest goods, reduce the exploitation of both community and gazetted forests, and combat climate change. At Mwamba, 500 assorted exotic tree seedlings were planted and adopted by the higher-grade learners for nurturing.

Later that day, the team conducted planting exercises in:

  • Majengo Comprehensive School
  • Bahati Comprehensive School
  • Lukamanda Township Comprehensive School
  • Mbaya Comprehensive School

All these institutions received more than 500 assorted tree seedlings, including exotic, indigenous, and avocado varieties.

The activities concluded on Friday, September 26, 2025, with planting at four more institutions:

  • Lake Basin Comprehensive
  • Mufutu Comprehensive
  • Sirende Comprehensive
  • Lunyito Comprehensive

In every school, the foundation challenged the communities to become exceptional environmental ambassadors by sustaining all the trees. Teachers and learners committed to providing the best aftercare, which includes protection, watering, mulching, weeding, and enhancing growth with periodic addition of manure.

Trees: Our Bridge to Freedom

While many see trees only for the wood and timber they provide, for the Dedan Kimathi Foundation, they are much more. Trees were a metaphorical bridge to our freedom during the freedom  struggle against the British, and today, they are the path to freedom against the impending effects of climate change.