Swissport Kenya and NCBA Group have partnered to grow 10,000 trees at Uplands Forest Station in Kiambu County, a move aimed at supporting Kenya's reforestation and climate action agenda, with the first 5,000 seedlings already planted.
NCBA donated the 10,000 seedlings. Half were planted during the initial exercise, while the remaining 5,000 are scheduled to go into the ground in the coming months.
Swissport Kenya CEO Racheal Ndegwa says the initiative reflects the company's commitment to environmental conservation. Ndegwa's remarks reflect a wider trend of companies backing visible environmental projects alongside their core business.
NCBA Group's Head of Group Sustainability, Ann Nderi, emphasised the importance of partnerships in addressing environmental challenges, a message the project puts into practice, with the bank supplying the seedlings and the two organisations working together to see them grow.
Reforestation efforts like this one matter because trees absorb carbon dioxide, help protect soil and water sources and provide habitats for wildlife. Forest areas such as Uplands are natural sites for restoring tree cover.
Tree planting works best when seedlings are followed through to maturity, so the real test will be how well the trees are nurtured after planting. The partnership also illustrates how private-sector players can complement national efforts to expand tree cover, bringing resources and organisational capacity to projects that might otherwise take longer to get off the ground.
Once the second phase is complete, the partners will have reached their 10,000-tree target at Uplands Forest Station, adding to efforts to restore green cover in Kiambu County. It is a modest but tangible contribution to the country's climate goals.
For both organisations, the exercise also sends a message to customers, employees and the public that sustainability is a shared responsibility rather than a task left to government alone. As climate pressures continue to shape how businesses plan and operate, partnerships of this kind are likely to become more common.
