Most often, birthday celebrations are not complete without a party involving cake cutting and making merry with friends and family.
But for Eric Koome, he will celebrate his 30th birthday through a 30-hour tree planting marathon targeting 3,000 indigenous seedlings at Muchiene, in the upper Imenti forest.
Koome, a network engineer and founder of Erinet Technology Solutions, is undertaking the daunting challenge alongside his mother Kellen Mwendwa, to give back to mother earth.
He will use the conservation initiative, dubbed ‘Generations for Earth Marathon’, to restore a swamp and spring within the forest.
Having been born and raised in Kibirichia, at the edges of Mt Kenya forest, Koome and her mother have learned to value trees and the environment.
“The tree planting marathon will run from May 22at 8am to May 23, 2026 at 2pm. I grew up seeing my grandfather and parents growing trees through the Shamba system. This inspired the idea to mark my 30th birthday by planting trees.
Having lived on earth for 30 years, I want to give back to planet Earth through planting 3,000 trees. This marathon also seeks to support the President’s ambitious 15 billion Trees campaign. I also want to inspire the young generation and the community to value the conservation of our environment,” Koome said.
The 3,000 trees will be planted in three acres of a deforested 20-acre block.
According to Mwendwa, a chief at Ng’onyi location, her son grew up near the Mucheene forest where he developed his love for the environment.
“When my son told me that he wanted to celebrate his birthday by planting 3,000 indigenous trees, I was very excited. I grew up near the forest and it was our parents ‘main source of livelihood. I will be supporting him in the tree planting marathon,” Mwendwa said.
The historic activity has received backing from the Kenya Forest Service (KFS), administration officers, ministry of environment and community members.
“Since we will be planting straight through the night, we’ve arranged for Security with Forest rangers, tents, a warm bonfire, and plenty of hot supplementary soups to keep our spirits high, our bodies warm, and the atmosphere cheerful,” he said.
Koome said he intends to plant some more 50,000 trees alongside his friends by the end of the year.
According to Meru County Conservator Wellington Ndaka, about 62 million trees have been planted in the county since 2022, in the push towards the 15 billion trees agenda.
He said the county has achieved 29 per cent tree cover and a 12.8 per cent forest cover.
