Also known as: Dr. Deborah Barasa · Dr Deborah Barasa · Environment CS Deborah Barasa · Dr Barasa · Environment Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa · Environment Cabinet Secretary Dr Deborah Barasa · Environment and Climate Change Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa
Environment Cabinet Secretary leading Kenya's tree-planting and climate resilience campaigns, including a 15 billion tree initiative by 2032.
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Order a long-term news report on Deborah Barasa
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The Standard
… This is why it was refreshing this week to see Nairobi County host several events that underlined the clamour for agricultural innovation and robust disaster preparedness.First, Environment Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa addressed the nation on Wednesday over the looming Octobe …
Why next revolution belongs to Mama MbogaCitizen Digital
… Already, a multi-agency team led by Environment Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa has been on the ground in Baringo County, bringing together experts from across government to avert a possible humanitarian and environmental disaster around Lakes Baringo and Bogoria, among the area …
Gov't identifies 18 high-risk counties ahead of El Niño rainsCitizen Digital
… s over 3,000 hectares in Mt Kenya forest By Greg Muriithi September 08, 2026 08:27 (EAT) Add as a Preferred Source on Google Follow us Follow on Whatsapp Follow on Google Follow on Twitter Audio By Vocalize Environment, Climate Change and Forestry Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa …
Fire ravages over 3,000 hectares in Mt Kenya forestThe Standard
… Environment, Climate Change and Forestry Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa said about 85 per cent of the fire had been contained by Monday, with teams focusing on hotspots and smouldering areas that could trigger new outbreaks. …
Mount Kenya wildfire: What 8,700 burnt hectares reveal about the crisisThe Standard
Audio By VocalizeEnvironment CS Deborah Barasa after opening a multi-agency technical workshop on the rising water levels of Lakes Baringo and Bogoria at Lake Bogoria Spa and Resort in Baringo County. …
CS tells Kenyans living on riparian land to move ahead of El Nino rainsThe Standard
Audio By VocalizeCommunity Forest Associations ( CFAs) are crucial for reaching the goal of 30% tree cover, according to Environment Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa. …
CS Barasa: Community Forest Associations vital to achieving 30 tree coverThe Standard
… Environment Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa has urged farmers to plant short-season crops to cushion the country against food shortages. …
Historic El Nino threat raises fresh risks for Kenya's economy and food securityThe Standard
… This solemn ceremony was part of this year’s World Ranger Day celebrations, marking 20 years since the global observance was established.Environment, Climate Change and Forestry Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa, who led the event honouring the officers, emphasised the daily dange …
Kenya pays tribute to 14 rangers killed in line of dutyThe Standard
… Environment Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa urged farmers to embrace climate-smart agriculture and plant short-season crops to help cushion the country against the effects of widespread maize crop failure caused by prolonged drought.Dr Barasa said the ministry is working with fa …
Farmers told to plant short season crops ahead of El Nino rainsCapital News
NAIROBI, Kenya, Jul 15 – Senators have challenged Environment, Climate Change and Forestry Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa over what they described as weak enforcement of environmental laws, despite Kenya having one of the region’s most comprehensive legal frameworks on pollutio …
Senators Put Environment CS Barasa on the Spot Over Pollution Control FailuresPresident William Ruto launched a cocoa farming initiative on Mazingira Day, distributing seedlings to farmers and announcing the government would consider lowering the cost of cocoa seedlings from KSh200. The government has identified five million hectares as suitable for cocoa farming and aims to plant 15 billion trees by 2032, with two billion already planted.
11 October 2026 · Capital News →
President William Ruto launched a cocoa farming initiative on Mazingira Day, distributing seedlings to farmers and announcing the government would consider lowering the cost of cocoa seedlings from KSh200. The government has identified five million hectares as suitable for cocoa farming and aims to plant 15 billion trees by 2032, with two billion already planted.
11 October 2026 · Capital News →
President William Ruto has renewed commitment to a 15 billion tree planting and restoration campaign target set for 2030, which the government says will help combat climate change. Environment Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa claimed the country has planted more than 2 billion trees since the programme's onset.
10 October 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Environment Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa says Kenya has surpassed the two-billion-tree mark and is on course to achieve its 15-billion-tree target by 2032. The government has put in place policies, legal frameworks and strategies to support the national tree-growing campaign, which aims to increase forest cover, restore degraded land, protect water sources and strengthen climate resilience.
10 October 2026 · Capital News →
President William Ruto is expected to attend Mazingira Day celebrations in Trans Nzoia County on Saturday as the government launches a nationwide campaign targeting 17.24 million trees. The exercise involves government agencies, schools, communities, village elders, prison authorities and the National Youth Service across 79 sites in 31 counties.
10 October 2026 · Capital News →
President William Ruto led tree-planting in Trans Nzoia County on Saturday as Kenya marked Mazingira Day, part of a broader government target to grow 15 billion trees by 2032. Kenya has planted 2.2 billion trees by October 5, with the goal of increasing forest cover to 30 per cent by 2032.
10 October 2026 · The Standard →
The Government has set a target of planting 17.24 million trees during this year's National Mazingira Week to restore degraded ecosystems and move closer to its goal of planting 15 billion trees by 2032. The week-long programme involves educational institutions, mining area restoration, and highway greening, with the Cabinet Secretary emphasizing that survival of planted trees matters more than the number planted.
6 October 2026 · The Standard →
The European Union has committed Sh590 million to support Kenya in strengthening systems for monitoring, reporting and validating climate action and carbon projects, as part of a partnership to develop a high-integrity carbon market. The funding was announced during the launch of the Kenya Guide for Strategic Engagement in Carbon Markets 2026.
5 October 2026 · The Standard →
Kisii Governor Simba Arati has been recognized for transforming the Nyambera dumpsite into Etaya Governors Park. Arati warned during World Cleanup Day 2026 celebrations that African cities struggle with waste management, citing recent deadly landfill collapses in Uganda and Guinea.
20 September 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Kenya joined the world on September 20 in observing World Cleanup Day, established by the UN General Assembly to combat waste pollution. This year's global theme, "From Clean Plates to Clean Cities," centers on food waste, with Kenya's Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Forestry Deborah Barasa leading public cleanup exercises.
20 September 2026 · The Standard →
Environment Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa said bamboo production is an emerging sector that could contribute to the country's environment, economy, and people's livelihoods. Kenya has approximately 130,000 hectares of natural bamboo forests, and the government aims to establish an additional 150,000 hectares under its National Bamboo Development Strategy and Action Plan 2025–2035.
19 September 2026 · The Standard →
An opinion piece argues that Africa must prioritize agriculture and trade to escape poverty and overcome aid dependency, citing former AfDB president Donald Kaberuka's view that the continent should "farm and trade" its way out of poverty rather than rely on external assistance.
12 September 2026 · The Standard →
The government has identified 18 counties as high-risk areas ahead of heavy rains and flooding expected from October, with a multi-agency team already working in Baringo County on evacuation and preparation efforts.
9 September 2026 · Citizen Digital →
A fire that began September 1 in Mt Kenya forest has consumed over 3,000 hectares, with 85% contained as of Monday. Over 400 personnel including Kenya Forest Service and Defence Forces staff have been deployed, and no casualties have been reported.
8 September 2026 · Citizen Digital →
A wildfire on Mount Kenya that began September 1 has affected more than 3,000 hectares according to the government, though conservation group Rhino Ark estimated about 8,700 hectares burned by September 6. Dry conditions, strong winds, and invasive plant species have driven the fire's spread across the ecosystem, with over 400 personnel deployed to contain it.
8 September 2026 · The Standard →
Environment Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa has warned Kenyans living on riparian land to move to safer ground ahead of expected heavy rainfall from October through January, citing risks of accidents and incidents from flooding. The Nairobi Rivers Commission noted that encroachment on riparian spaces remains a major obstacle to river rehabilitation efforts.
8 September 2026 · The Standard →
Environment Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa says Community Forest Associations are vital for reaching Kenya's 30% tree cover goal, noting that CFAs manage forest resources, establish nurseries, and lead forest restoration efforts. Kenya has 233 registered CFAs, with around 80% actively involved in forest conservation.
8 August 2026 · The Standard →
Kenya is experiencing its strongest El Niño in more than four decades, with forecasters warning of potential economic catastrophe and threats to food security. The Southern Oscillation Index fell to -29.1 in July, its lowest level since February 1983, with an 81 per cent probability of a "very strong" El Niño event between October and December that would rank among the largest in the historical record since 1950.
7 August 2026 · The Standard →
Kenya planted 14 trees to honour rangers killed in the line of duty since the start of the year during World Ranger Day celebrations at the Forests Law Enforcement Academy in Mukutani. Environment Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa noted that 14 rangers have died and 40 others injured while protecting the country's natural resources against armed illegal loggers, poachers, and forest fires.
5 August 2026 · The Standard →
The Ministry of Environment has launched a programme to equip farmers with climate-smart farming skills and is urging them to plant short-season crops to take advantage of anticipated El Nino rains and mitigate losses from the failed maize season caused by prolonged drought.
3 August 2026 · The Standard →
Kenyan senators have challenged Environment CS Deborah Barasa over weak enforcement of environmental laws, arguing that despite Kenya's comprehensive pollution control legal framework, continued industrial emissions, toxic waste dumping, and water contamination indicate serious implementation gaps. The lawmakers directed much criticism at the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), questioning its effectiveness in enforcing environmental standards.
15 July 2026 · Capital News →
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has rallied supporters to consolidate support for President Ruto's 2027 reelection, warning against political distractions including campaigns for 2032 elections. He called on supporters to set aside "unimportant matters" and unite efforts to ensure the President wins a second term.
11 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Deputy President Kindiki has praised the Kaptagat Integrated Conservation Programme as a blueprint for community-led conservation, saying its decade-long success shows that environmental restoration works best when it improves livelihoods for forest-adjacent communities. He spoke at the programme's 10th anniversary in Elgeyo Marakwet County.
11 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
First Lady Rachel Ruto and Ida Odinga led a tree-planting exercise in the Mau Forest Complex as part of the Integrated Conservation and Livelihood Improvement Programme, which aims to plant more than 40 million tree seedlings over the next decade to rehabilitate the forest and support the national campaign to grow 15 billion trees by 2032.
26 June 2026 · Citizen Digital →
First Lady Rachel Ruto and Kenya's Ambassador to UNEP Ida Odinga led a tree-planting exercise in the Mau Forest Complex as part of a long-term conservation programme targeting the planting of more than 40 million seedlings over the next decade to restore degraded forest landscapes. The First Lady adopted 33 hectares within the forest as part of the restoration campaign.
26 June 2026 · Capital News →
During a Senate hearing on forced disappearances of young fishermen at Lake Nakuru, Kenya Wildlife Services Director General Erastus Kanga rejected a report tabled by the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, saying he had not seen it and could not adequately respond to allegations without reviewing the document first.
23 June 2026 · The Standard →
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has called for enhanced global action to restore degraded rangelands and strengthen ecosystem resilience, saying Kenya is committed to planting 15 billion trees by 2032 to combat land degradation, drought and desertification.
17 June 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has called on the international community to intensify efforts to restore degraded rangelands and strengthen ecosystem resilience, warning that land degradation threatens livelihoods, food security, and environmental stability. Kenya is committed to planting 15 billion trees by 2032 to counter drought, desertification, and environmental degradation.
17 June 2026 · The Standard →
Kenya and Finland have signed memoranda of understanding on education (covering technical and vocational training, teacher development, and competency-based learning), digital innovation (digitisation of public services and digital transformation), and climate action (climate change resilience, environmental sustainability, and green growth). President William Ruto witnessed the ceremony with President Alexander Stubb in Helsinki on June 10, 2026.
10 June 2026 · Citizen Digital →
President William Ruto oversaw the signing of three major cooperation agreements with Finland during a State Visit to Helsinki, covering education, technology, and climate action. The agreements are expected to deepen bilateral relations through practical collaboration in TVET, digital transformation, and climate initiatives.
10 June 2026 · The Standard →
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki said Kenya is on course to achieve the targeted 15 billion trees by 2032 to raise forest cover, with 1.7 billion trees already planted since the programme launched in 2022. He spoke during celebrations marking the International Day for Biological Diversity and the launch of the Cherangany Hills Ecosystem Restoration Programme in Elgeyo Marakwet County.
22 May 2026 · Citizen Digital →