National Tree Planting Day for the County Government of Nairobi Held on 13 November 2023, Report by the Environment Officers I Parks and Open Spaces

1. NATIONAL TREE PLANTING DAY
RUAI SEWAGE PLANT
“The government has declared a special holiday on Monday 13 November 2023, during which the public across the country shall
be expected to plant trees as a patriotic contribution to the national efforts to save our country from the devastating effects of
climate change,” said Kindiki.
Report By Parks & Natural Resources
GREEN NAIROBI (Environment, Water, Food & Agriculture)
LET’S MAKE NAIROBI WORK
NAIROBI CITY COUNTY
www.nairobi.go.ke

2. Introduction
to the Site
01

3. The Ruai Sewage Plant also known as the Dandora
Estate Sewage Treatment Plant, has been operating
continuously since 1978. It covers a 5,000-acre piece of
land and is responsible for managing the wastewater of
the population in Nairobi, with up to 2.3 million people
relying on it for waste disposal. Despite its importance in
wastewater management, the plant is considered a
significant pollutant due to the continuous release of
gases into the environment.The Plant has a total of 56
pools that serve as first sewage treatment point. Cat fish
and tilapia fish species help in determining the quality of
water due to their sensitivity to water pollution. The
pools also have an issue of the stubborn water hyacinth.
Introduction

4. Current Site
Status
02

5. The piece of land is owned by Nairobi Water. They are
contributing the land for the National Tree Planting Day
There had previously been encroachment of the land
and the stones structures have currently been
demolished
The participating groups in the tree planting exercise
include the Local community, Stima Sacco who will be
contributing 570 trees, KURA, Nairobi Water and
Sewerage Company, the Hindu Community who will be
contributing 1000 trees bought from Community Based
Organizations), CBO’s, Athi Water, Stima SACCO, the
Nairobi County Government and other interested parties.
There are currently over 67 bird species on site, including
the white pelican and the Egyptian goose
The ponds on site are about 15 feet deep
Current Site Status

6. The site is home to a variety of plant and animal species.
Some of the animals on site are birds, crocodiles and
about 15 hippos.
There’s a swamp on site and on most occasions the
hippos feed there. The swamp will therefore be
maintained for that purpose and later on, they intend to
add bamboo plant
There is a Nursery on site that has over 400,000
seedlings, but with a target of 10 million seedlings.
Some of there seedlings are fruit bearing.
Nairobi river borders fence and carries some litter during
heavy rains dumping it on site
Plants are watered by the water from the ponds that
flows through the canals into the trenches dug on the
farms
Water comes from pond, to the next pond , before it
comes to final discharge where it meets Nairobi river. it
has circulated in the ponds for 90 days.

7. Trees Already Planted on Site
There are
already some
trees planted
on the site
and being
well
managed.
The trees
progress is
remarkable
and is
adapting
well to the
soils and
water

8. Existing Nursery Photos
Images
showing the
existing
nursery with
species
including
avocado and
mango fruit
trees

9. Stima SACCO Seedling Donation
Until you dig
a hole, you
plant a tree,
you water it
and make it
survive, you
haven't done
a thing.
Prof Wangari
Maathai

10. Canals and Final Discharge
Images show
the water
system in
place in the
site, with the
canal and
the final
discharge
water flow
from the
ponds

11. Tree Planting
Day Activity
Status
03

12. Number of Seedlings Donated by Various Institutions
S/No Date Issued Institution Number of Seedlings Issued
1 11TH
Nov NCCG 60 CEREMONIAL
2 11TH
Nov NWSC 10 CEREMONIAL
3
10TH
Nov KURA 1200
4
10TH
Nov HINDU COMMUNITY 1000
5 12TH
Nov STIMA SACCO 570
6 12TH
Nov RUIRU PRISONS 1500
7 12TH
Nov ATHI WATER 5000

13. Tree Planting Day Activity Status
Green army had dug
450 holes as of 9 Nov,
2023
Current total number
of holes dug are 8000
holes
The event is being
partnered by many
companies including,
NCCG, NWSC, Athi Water,
etc
Local community
members and CBO’s
are part of the
participating groups
17000 trees have been
planted so far since
January
It’s been 4 months
since the beginning of
planting of new trees
at hippo region
Nursery will ensure
tree replacement in
case trees dry out
National Tree Planting
Day (1st ever occasion)
will happen on 13
November

14. Opportunities
04

15. Creating a multicultural forest within the facility. This
approach would involve the planting of trees, which play
a crucial role in purifying the air and filtering out
pollutants, thereby enhancing air cleansing.
Mixed farming opportunities - introduction of beans
farming
Creation of a bird park and making it accessible to the
public. The park can retain all the species that already
exists and many more
Uplifting aesthetics of the area
Maximising on views and vistas of the context
Opportunities

16. Business opportunities in terms of creation of a
Recreational Park (introducing speed boats as an
activity)
Promotion of ecosystem services
Sustenance of the species habitats
Create a Donate a Tree/ Adopt a Tree Link - Advise
people to join a link and contribute trees and take note
on auditing to make it more interactive
Getting rid of air pollution through the planting of trees
Improving the health of the nearby inhabitants through
three planting, as currently the people living in the
vicinity have reported respiratory illnesses, neurology
and cognitive issues.
Reduction on global warming as currently the plant
releases approximately 2,811 cubic meters of methane
per day, making it a significant contributor to global
warming. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that has a
warming effect 80% higher than carbon dioxide.

17. Preparation
Phase
05

18. Preparation
Phase - (I)
This involve the activities that preceded the tree planting day
occasion and that were undertaken by parks and open spaces
team.
When the request for tree planting day came, the City park team
was already set because trees that were ready for November
rains had been hardened accordingly to reduce the
transplanting shock.
All those coming for trees were directed to the department
office for registration, where Ms. Maureen coordinated the
groups based on the demand and sent the list back to the City
park team for issuance. The list was as follows:

19. S/N Sub-county Number of trees issued
1 Starehe 485
2 Kamukunji 400
3 Dagoretti north 400
4 Dagoretti south 300
5 Makadara 300
6 Embakasi west 300
7 Embakasi east 3,194
8 Embakasi north 707
9 Embakasi south 300
10 Embakasi central 1,300
11 Roysambu 300
12 Westlands 550
13 Mathare 240
14 Kasarani 1,000
15 Ruaraka 700
16 Kibra 1,690
17 Langata 300
Total 12,466
Preparation
Phase - (II)
Number of Tree Seedlings Issued
to Sub-Counties for National Tree
Planting Day on 13th
November,
2023

20. Vehicles lining up for loading of
trees at City park Nursery.
The numbers arriving at the city
park nursery started peaking on 7th
Nov. 2023 and by 10th
Nov. 2023, a
total of 12,466 trees had been
issued.
Preparation
Phase - (III)

21. Recording and loading the trees at
the city park
Preparation
Phase - (IV)

22. Delivering red soil and equipment
On 10th
Nov. 2023, staff were briefed on the tree
planting day occasion and were made alert for the
occasion. On the same 10th
day of Nov. 2023, a 20
tons truck of red soil and equipment were delivered
to Ruai site ready for use during tree planting.
Preparation
Phase - (V)

23. Execution Phase
06

24. The tree planting exercise was executed in all the
parts of the County right to the ward level, with the
main exercise being undertaken at the Dandora
Estate Sewerage Treatment Works Ruai under the
stewardship Nairobi Governor H.E Sakaja Johnson.
This was termed as a major step of expanding the
green spaces as well as enhancing aesthetics
within Nairobi County.
Execution
Phase

25. Planting of Tree by the Governor and County
Leadership team
The Governor led the tree planting exercise and was
joined by Deputy Governor H.E Njoroge Muchiri, County
Secretary Mr. Patrick Analo, County Executive Members
led by Green Nairobi Executive Mr Ibrahim Auma, Ruai
MCA Hon James Karis and Nairobi City Water and
Sewarage Company leadership.
Other notable and Actively involved in the tree planting
on this site include several County Chief Officers,
Directors and other county staff.
Execution Phase -
Ruai Site

26. Planting of Tree by the Sub-Counties and Ward
Leadership team
This is the team that was actively engaging the
Nairobians at the local and neighbourhood level. This
team was led by th Sub-County Administrators, Chief
Environment Officers, Ward Environment Officers and
other County staff.
The sites where the exercise took place range from
public institutions such as schools, hospitals, religious
centres, road reserves, road medians, neighbourhood
parks and green space, estates etc.
More than 10,000 seedlings were planted during the
entire exercise.
Execution Phase - Sub-
Counties & Ward Levels

27. Event Photos
07

28. Pictorials of the Day
H.E Governor Sakaja Johnson H.E Deputy Governor Njoroge
Muchiri
Green Nairobi CECM Mr.
Ibrahim Auma

29. Pictorials of the Day
Participants at Ruai Plant site, where a total of 10, 116 holes were dug for use

30. Pictorials of the Day

31. Event Challenges
● Lack of distribution of tree seedlings across the
planting area hence increasing the distance between
the tree seedlings and the holes making it difficult for
the members to plant more trees since they had to
carry two seedlings to where they would plant
● Some members of the public lacked knowledge on how
to plant the tree seedlings.
● The holes dug were lesser than the tree seedlings to be
planted

32. Planting
Participants should wear gum
boots on the National Tree
Planting Day
Encourage the public to Donate
a tree/ adopt a tree
They need 5 trucks of red soil
from Nairobi County to cater for
the many trees to be planted and
nursery plants
Planting Day
Recommendations
Nursery Program
Need to sponsor 4 people to be
trained for a month in order to
acquire a certificate for the
nursery
They need a well drafted
program so as to avoid any
hiccups on the actual tree
planting day
Encourage planting of an
assortment of trees that are
suitable to the climatic
conditions
The Public Variety