A 29-year-old environmentalist, Hillary Kiplagat Kibiwot, has etched his name into global conservation history after planting 23,326 trees within 24 hours, surpassing the previous world record of 23,060 set in 2021 by Canadian planter Antoine Moses.
Kibiwot, a native of Elgeyo Marakwet County, achieved the milestone during a high-intensity exercise at Kessup Forest Station.
The attempt, which began on Wednesday, April 22, morning and concluded on Thursday, April 23, had initially targeted 24,000 seedlings within a single day.
The record-breaking feat tested both physical endurance and environmental resolve, as Kibiwot worked continuously across expansive forest terrain under strict time constraints.
“This is more than a Guinness World Records attempt. It is a powerful signal of what we can achieve as a nation,” forestry officials overseeing the exercise said, noting that the initiative reflects Kenya’s growing leadership in grassroots climate action.
Although he narrowly missed his personal target, Kibiwot’s tally exceeded the existing global benchmark, positioning him for official recognition by Guinness World Records pending verification.
The event organizers indicated that the exercise was supervised by the Kenya Forest Service in collaboration with local authorities to ensure compliance with international record verification standards, including documentation, independent witnesses and measurable outputs.
Governor Wisley Rotich, who flagged off the exercise, lauded the environmentalist’s determination and the community’s support.
“I want to appreciate our community for turning up and supporting our son as he makes history,” the governor said, describing the achievement as a source of pride for the county.
Kibiwot, a co-founder of the Green Earth Ambassadors Foundation, has been actively involved in conservation initiatives. His record attempt covered more than 30 hectares of forest land and has been widely viewed as a demonstration of resilience and climate action leadership.
Forestry experts have linked the achievement to Kenya’s ambitious national target of planting 15 billion trees by 2032, a strategy aimed at restoring degraded ecosystems, enhancing biodiversity and mitigating climate change impacts.
“This effort reflects the scale of action required to address climate change,” Wesley observed, adding that individual-led initiatives are increasingly playing a critical role in achieving national and global environmental goals.
For the record to be formally ratified, Guinness World Records requires that the feat meet strict criteria, including measurability, verifiability and replicability under similar conditions.
If confirmed, Kibiwot’s accomplishment will not only set a new global benchmark but also position Kenya as a hub for innovative and community-driven environmental solutions.
