Kenya has entered the Guinness World Records after more than 4,100 participants simultaneously planted mangrove seedlings in Jomvu, Mombasa County, during celebrations marking the International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem.
The record-breaking environmental initiative brought together 4,196 scouts, community members and conservation partners, with 4,124 participants successfully meeting the strict synchronization requirements set by Guinness World Records, surpassing the previous global mark.
The exercise was spearheaded by the Kenya Scouts Association with support from the Kenya Forest Service (KFS), Safaricom's M-Pesa Foundation and other partners, combining climate action with youth engagement in one of the country's largest coordinated tree-planting events.
Speaking after the exercise, Principal Senior Deputy Chief Conservator of Forests Dr. Clement Ng’oriareng’ said the event was held to highlight the ecological importance of mangrove forests while encouraging communities to take an active role in protecting them.
"Mangroves play a critical role in protecting our coastline from erosion, providing breeding grounds for fish, storing carbon and supporting the livelihoods of communities that depend on coastal ecosystems," he said.
Dr. Ng’oriareng’ explained that KFS provided technical guidance by identifying the most suitable planting site, determining the correct spacing of seedlings and supervising the exercise to ensure it complied with Guinness World Records requirements.
He described the logistics involved in coordinating thousands of participants as a major undertaking, noting that every participant had to be equipped with a seedling and the necessary planting tools before the countdown began.
Kenya Scouts Association Chief Executive Officer Moses Dande said the record attempt was designed to inspire young people to embrace environmental conservation while contributing to the government's ambitious target of planting 15 billion trees.
"We wanted to create excitement around conservation. Young people respond positively when they are challenged, and this initiative has shown that environmental protection can be both educational and inspiring," Danda said.
He added that the association, which has more than 4.4 million members across the country, would continue using scouting activities to promote conservation and community service.
Safaricom Director for Sustainability and Shared Value Karen Basiye said the telecommunications company supported the initiative through the M-Pesa Foundation as part of its commitment to plant five million trees nationwide.
She said mangroves are among the world's most effective ecosystems for carbon sequestration and are essential in sustaining coastal livelihoods.
"Conservation should begin at an early age. By involving children in initiatives like this, we are nurturing a generation that understands the importance of protecting the environment," Basiye said.
Jomvu MP Badi Twalib hailed the achievement, saying the exercise demonstrated the power of collective action in addressing climate change and restoring fragile coastal ecosystems.
"We are here to restore our coastline, protect our marine life and leave behind a greener future. Let history remember that when action was needed to protect our oceans, Jomvu answered the call," he said.
According to the official results released after the event, Kenya's synchronized mangrove planting effort established a new Guinness World Record, positioning the country as a global leader in community-led coastal restoration and reinforcing national efforts to expand tree cover through large-scale conservation initiatives.
