SBM Bank Kenya Board Chair Shakila Jhungeer plants Pordocarpus falcatus or Yellow-wood / African fern pine tree at Ngong Forest Sanctuary in Nairobi County during the bank’s staff tree planting event in which 500 indigenous trees were planted. Looking on is assisted by Kenya Forest Services Assistant Conservator Simon Kinyanjui and the bank’s staff. The bank targets to plant 20,000 locally and 50,000 trees at group level in their 5-year plan that began 2023.
By Editorial Team.
Nairobi, Kenya – November 10,2025: SBM Bank Kenya has strengthened its commitment to sustainability through a major tree planting drive at Ngong Road Forest – Sanctuary Block, supporting the government’s nationwide reforestation agenda aimed at restoring degraded ecosystems and tackling climate change.
The initiative aligns with President William Ruto’s ambitious plan to plant 15 billion trees by 2032, a national effort to restore 5.1 million hectares of land affected by deforestation and degradation. According to the National Treasury, Kenyans are encouraged to plant at least 50 trees annually to help achieve this goal. So far, over 750 million seedlings have been planted across the country, marking significant progress toward a greener and more resilient Kenya.
As part of its broader Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) agenda, SBM Group has pledged to plant 50,000 trees, with SBM Bank Kenya contributing 20,000 from that target. To date, the bank has planted 9,500 tree seedlings in various regions, including Ngong Road Forest’s Bomas Block, Karura Forest, Nairobi National Park, and the Kenyan Coast, where it partnered with local organizations to plant mangrove trees.
During the event, SBM Bank Kenya Board Chairperson Shakilla Jhungeer underscored the importance of integrating environmental conservation into the bank’s sustainability journey.
“Today marks more than the planting of a tree. It is part of our story of commitment, accountability, and hope,” she said. “As a bank, our first responsibility is to our clients, to our communities, and to our shareholders. But increasingly, we recognize that long-term value also depends on the health of the world around us the air we breathe, the soil that supports our communities and crops, and the ecosystems that sustain livelihoods.”
Jhungeer highlighted that SBM Bank Kenya’s sustainability initiatives extend beyond reforestation. Along the coast, the bank has worked with Diani Turtle Watch on beach clean-up campaigns, removing plastics, protecting turtle nests, and promoting marine ecosystem conservation. The bank has also supported off-grid solar home systems, enabling access to clean energy and accelerating Kenya’s transition to a low-carbon economy.
“These actions demonstrate that our sustainability agenda is not lip service. Yet, they also show that we still have much more to do,” she stated.
She emphasized that tree planting is one of the most effective ways to restore ecosystems, promote biodiversity, and empower communities, reinforcing Kenya’s reforestation and climate resilience objectives.
“The ceremonial tree you will plant symbolizes the bank’s commitment. And when we all plant trees together today, we are collectively declaring: ‘We are all stewards,’” she added.
Jhungeer concluded by calling on participants to view tree planting as a shared act of hope and renewal.
“When you plant a tree here today, you are planting said hope for cleaner air, healthier soils, resilient communities, and a stronger Kenya. At SBM Bank Kenya we are proud to walk that path, and we thank each of you for joining us in this journey,” she said.
The exercise marked a significant milestone in SBM Bank Kenya’s environmental sustainability drive, reinforcing its role in advancing Kenya’s 15-billion-tree initiative and contributing to a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable future for generations to come.
