Kenyan environmental enthusiast Hillary Kiplagat Kibiwott has made a remarkable mark after setting a new world record in tree planting, placing his name among notable conservation achievers.
The 29-year-old from Elgeyo-Marakwet County planted 23,326 trees within 24 hours, surpassing the previous record of 23,060 trees that had been set in 2021 by Canadian planter Antoine Moses in Alberta, Canada. The feat was achieved during an intense exercise that began on Wednesday, April 22, and ended on the morning of Thursday, April 23.
The record attempt took place at Kessup Forest Station in Elgeyo Marakwet, where Kiplagat spent a full day pushing through exhaustion in a race against time. His original target had been 24,000 trees, and although he fell slightly short of that number, he still managed to beat the standing world record.
The attempt drew support from the Kenya Forest Service, local leaders and conservation officials, who closely monitored the process to ensure standards were met.
The event also attracted members of the community, many of whom turned up to witness what could become a historic global achievement for Kenya.
Governor Wisely Rotich, who flagged off the challenge, praised Kiplagat’s determination and the community’s support.
“I joined Mr. Hillary Kiplagat Kibiwott today as he took on this legendary challenge. I want to appreciate our community for turning up, bringing the energy, and witnessing greatness unfold. I’m proud to have played my part and supported our son as he makes history,” said Rotich.
Beyond breaking a record, Kiplagat’s effort carries wider significance as Kenya continues to pursue its ambitious goal of planting 15 billion trees by 2032. The programme is part of broader efforts to tackle climate change, restore degraded land and expand forest cover across the country.
His achievement has also drawn attention to the role individuals can play in environmental conservation. Planting more than 23,000 trees in a single day required physical endurance, discipline and planning, qualities that many observers said made the attempt extraordinary.
However, the new record is yet to receive official recognition from Guinness World Records. Before it can be ratified, the attempt must go through a verification process to confirm it meets all the set rules.
According to Guinness World Records, a valid record must be measurable, breakable, verifiable, standardisable, universal and represent the single best performance in that category.
“We must be able to measure it objectively, for example in seconds, metres or kilogrammes. We don’t accept records based on opinion, such as ‘best’, ‘most beautiful’ or ‘most talented’,” revealed the Guinness World Records.
The body also states that for a record to be recognised, it must be possible for another person to challenge and potentially surpass it in future. The attempt must also be conducted under clear and universal rules that anyone can follow.
For Kiplagat’s case, evidence such as witness statements, measurements, photos, video recordings and supporting documents will form part of the review before a final decision is made.
Even as he awaits formal ratification, Kiplagat’s achievement has already stirred pride among many Kenyans, with supporters viewing it as both a personal milestone and a contribution to the country’s environmental agenda. If confirmed, the record would place Kenya at the centre of a global conservation achievement while inspiring wider participation in tree planting efforts.