MKU students, staff and Thika community members during the tree planting day organised by theMKU School of Pharmacy. Photo/Courtesy
By Lawrence Ongaro
Mount Kenya University (MKU), through an initiative of the School of Pharmacy Alumni Network (MKU-SPAN) and the Pharmacy Students Association (MKUPSA), hosted a tree planting exercise on Thursday, April 2, 2026.
Held under the theme “Growing a Living Herbarium for Learning, Research and Environmental Stewardship,” the event brought together students, staff, partners, donors, and the wider Thika community in a collaborative effort to promote environmental sustainability and academic innovation.
The forum aimed to establish a living herbarium that will serve as a sustainable resource, supporting teaching, research, and the conservation of medicinal plants. A living herbarium—often exemplified by botanical gardens or specialised plant collections—is a curated, scientifically managed collection of living plants grown for study, education, and conservation.
The herbal garden will provide students with hands-on learning opportunities while enhancing the school’s capacity for research in pharmacognosy and natural product development.
Leadership emphasises sustainability and Vision 2030
Speaking during the event, the Principal, Corporate Services, Communication and Alumni Relations—who is also MKU’s Director of Linkages—Prof Mwangi Peter Wanderi, reminded participants of the critical need to embrace Vision 2030 at an individual level to support positive change in the country.
The school’s leadership, led by the Dean, Dr Michael Mung’oma, emphasised the critical role of plants in healthcare and the need to preserve biodiversity for future generations.
Read more: MKU flags off 5th nursing apprentices to Germany
“This initiative bridges education and environmental responsibility, ensuring that our students appreciate the direct link between nature and medicine,” he said.
The Dean also cited the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 13 and 15, which call for collective action to combat climate change and promote the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems. Through this activity, the School of Pharmacy reaffirmed its commitment to supporting national and global environmental goals.
Supporting national tree-planting targets
The event also contributes to Kenya’s national target of planting 15 billion trees by 2032—an initiative aimed at restoring degraded landscapes and increasing national tree cover to over 30 per cent. Initiated in 2023, national tree-planting days are official public holidays focused on nationwide planting efforts, with over 150 million seedlings often planted in a single day.
Kenya’s national forest cover is estimated at 9 per cent (roughly 5.2 million hectares), with total tree cover standing at 12 per cent. While this marks a significant increase, it remains below the 10 per cent constitutional target for forest cover. To bridge the gap, a countrywide initiative led by the Kenya Forest Service (KFS), in collaboration with the government, NGOs, and community groups, continues to target degraded landscapes.
Read more: Timothy Arege: Kabaji gave one-sided story on Meja Mwangi woes
According to Prof Peter Kirira, Deputy Vice-Chancellor in charge of Administration, Planning and Institutional Advancement (APIA) at MKU, growing trees is more impactful than merely planting them. He encouraged sustained stewardship in conservation efforts.
Partners and donors present at the event—including AAR Healthcare, Analabs, and Najimudu Empowerment Initiative—commended the university for integrating sustainability into academic programmes and pledged continued collaboration in similar initiatives. Students also actively participated in planting and learning sessions, reinforcing their role as future healthcare professionals conscious of environmental stewardship.
The School of Pharmacy remains committed to advancing innovative and sustainable approaches to education, research, and community engagement.
About the Author
