Kenya Sets Guinness World Record in Massive Jomvu Mangrove Planting Drive

Kenya has officially achieved a new Guinness World Record for the largest number of people planting mangrove seedlings simultaneously within 15 seconds during an event at Jomvu, Mombasa County.

The achievement surpassed the minimum requirement of 3,000 participants set by Guinness World Records.

Thousands of participants gathered along the tidal mudflats to execute the high-speed conservation effort, organized in partnership with the Kenya Scouts Association, Kenya Forest Service (KFS), Safaricom M-pesa Foundation, and Bidco Creek Conservation.

The initiative aligns with World Mangrove Day celebrations and supports the government’s target of planting 15 billion trees by 2032.

Announcing the final results, the official adjudicator confirmed that after reviewing documentary evidence, witnessing the attempt, and verifying field compliance, the nation had successfully set the new mark.

Strict Planting Guidelines Met During Attempt

Before confirming the record, the adjudicator emphasized that participants had to correctly plant young native mangrove trees, leave sufficient space for growth, and avoid using machinery.

“To qualify for the record, participants had to correctly plant young native mangrove trees, leave enough space between each tree for healthy growth, and refrain from using machinery,” said the Guinness World Records adjudicator.

“Only those who met all the requirements were included in the final count.”

KFS officers and appointed stewards monitored the plot to ensure every participant adhered to standard forestry practices.

Speaking on the technical setup, Dr Clement Ng’oriareng, Principal Senior Deputy Chief Conservator of Forests at KFS, explained that experts selected the Jomvu site with guidance from the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI).

“We were planting mangroves at a spacing of 1 metre by 1 metre,” said Ng’oriareng. “One hectare carries 10,000 mangrove seedlings, so targeting 5,000 people required an ideal site of 0.5 hectares with suitable soil and accessible seedlings.”

Ng’oriareng added that while a major national ceremony in Mokowe, Lamu County, saw over 200,000 mangroves planted on the same day, the Jomvu event focused specifically on high-speed community action and record verification.

Youth Mobilization and Private Sector Support

The record attempt mobilized thousands of young people across the coastal region, led by the Kenya Scouts Association and supported by corporate partners.

Karen Basiye, Director of Sustainability and Shared Value at Safaricom M-pesa Foundation, noted that the initiative forms part of the company’s broader commitment to grow 5 million trees nationwide.

“We have conserved various forests across the country, and we were happy to support this initiative because mangroves are the best in carbon sequestration, protecting coastal livelihoods.”

Moses Danda, Chief Executive Officer of the Kenya Scouts Association, emphasized that creating competitive challenges helps inspire youth to take part in large-scale environmental action.

“Scouting is about education and duty to others,” said Danda. “Creating a challenge around tree planting excites young people. None of us knew you could plant a tree properly in 15 seconds, proving we can achieve the national 15 billion tree goal much faster.”

Global climate activist Jimmy Cohen, who previously set an individual record by planting over 30,000 mangroves in 24 hours, described the Mombasa event as a stepping stone toward even larger environmental goals.

“Mangroves absorb up to 10 times more carbon dioxide than terrestrial forests and protect marine life,” said Cohen. “Involving young people in events like this shapes their future and builds momentum for massive environmental action.”

Major Milestone in National Conservation Goals

Environment, Climate Change and Forestry Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa described the achievement as a major milestone in the country’s restoration roadmap.

“Kenya has restored 91.6 million mangroves within the last three years,” said Barasa.

She noted that the figure represents more than 65 per cent of the country’s 10-year target to restore 140 million mangroves under the 15 Billion Tree Growing Programme.

Barasa commended KFS, KMFRI, Community Forest Associations, and local residents for protecting critical marine ecosystems, noting that restored mangrove belts safeguard shorelines from erosion, boost fisheries, and secure livelihoods for coastal communities.