Kenya Scouts make history with world record for mangrove restoration

Thousands of Scouts in Kenya set a world record in environmental action, showing what young people can achieve when communities, government, and partners work together for a healthier planet.

On 26 July 2026, Scouts joined community members and environmental partners in Mombasa to set a new Guinness World Records title for the most people planting mangrove trees simultaneously. A total of 4,124 participants successfully completed the challenge.

The achievement was more than a moment for the record books. It demonstrated how Scouting can mobilise young people and partners around practical solutions to climate change and biodiversity loss.

A growing culture of environmental leadership

The mangrove achievement builds on a growing culture of environmental leadership among Scouts in Kenya.

Kenyan Scout and climate activist Truphena Muthoni also recently made history by setting a Guinness World Records title for the longest marathon hugging a tree. In December 2025, she spent 72 hours hugging a tree to raise awareness about environmental protection and the importance of caring for nature.

Together, these achievements reflect Kenya Scouts’ sustained commitment to environmental action.

From a world record to lasting restoration

The record attempt marked the beginning of a wider two-year collaboration between the Kenya Scouts Association and M-Pesa Foundation to restore degraded ecosystems and strengthen youth-led climate action.

Through the partnership, Scouts will work alongside communities and conservation partners to restore mangrove forests, raise awareness about their importance, and encourage more young people to take an active role in protecting nature.

The ambition goes beyond Kenya’s coast. Using Scouting’s nationwide network, the initiative aims to support tree-growing and restoration activities across different regions of the country, with a goal of planting and nurturing more than one million trees.

The achievement also contributes to Kenya’s wider environmental ambitions. In a congratulatory message, Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, Dr Deborah M. Barasa, commended the role of Kenya Scouts in supporting the national ambition to grow 140 million mangrove trees as part of the country’s 15 Billion Tree Growing Programme.

The actions of Scouts in Kenya show how young people can contribute meaningfully to national development priorities. Through experiences like these, Scouting equips young people with the skills, values, and opportunities to become active and responsible citizens who take action in their communities and help shape a more sustainable future.
 

Partnerships that multiply impact

Achieving ambitions of this scale requires collaboration. The initiative shows how partnerships between young people, communities, government, and the private sector can turn local action into lasting impact.

For M-Pesa Foundation, working with Scouts combines resources and conservation expertise with Scouts' energy and community reach. Karen Basiye, Director of Sustainable Business and Social Impact at Safaricom, described the collaboration as an opportunity to put youth-led conservation and climate action into practice.

With the record set, the bigger challenge now continues: helping the trees grow, restoring ecosystems, and inspiring even more young people to take action for the planet.