At 11am on Wednesday, April 22, clad in a tracksuit and armed with a shovel in one hand and a tree seedling in the other, the 28-year-old environmentalist set out to plant 24,000 trees at Kessup Forest in Elgeyo Marakwet County.
After a gruelling 24 hours, by 11am on Thursday, Kibiwott had planted 23,326 trees in the misty Rift Valley forest, potentially earning himself a new world record.
World Record Attempt: Hilary Kiplagat Kibiwott during the attempt to plant 24,000 tree seedlings in 24 hours, at Kessup Forest in Elgeyo Marakwet County on April 22, 2026.
Photo credit: Jared Nyataya | Nation Media Group
The previous Guinness World Record stood at 23,060 trees planted in 24 hours, set by Canadian Antoine Moses on July 17, 2021. With 23,326 trees planted, Mr Kibiwott surpassed that mark by 266 trees.
The record attempt was supervised by witnesses from four environmental conservation agencies nominated under strict Guinness World Records requirements and regulations.
Officials drawn from the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), Kenya Forest Service (KFS), Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), Forest Conservation Committees (FCC), and the Kaptagat Integrated Conservation Programme (KICP) monitored the exercise throughout the 24-hour period.
High-profile guest observers present underscored the seriousness of the mission for the young environmentalist.
Elgeyo Marakwet County Governor Wesley Rotich, National Treasury Principal Secretary and patron of the Kaptagat Integrated Conservation Programme Dr Chris Kiptoo, and Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF) Alex Lemarkoko were among those who attended to witness the record-breaking attempt.
Kibiwott, a co-founder of the Green Earth Ambassadors Foundation, launched the bid to break the record in January through an application to the record body. His application was accepted, leading to intense preparation for the feat.
Among the conditions set by the records body were independent supervision and a specific activity threshold.
World Record Attempt: Hilary Kiplagat Kibiwott during the attempt to plant 24,000 tree seedlings in 24 hours, at Kessup Forest in Elgeyo Marakwet County on April 22, 2026.
Photo credit: Jared Nyataya | Nation Media Group
In Mr Kibiwott’s case, he was required to demonstrate the capacity to plant more than 23,060 trees to surpass the current record held by the Canadian national.
He also had to show the ability to plant one tree every 2.5 to 3.6 seconds, translating to over 1,000 trees per hour.
In addition, the tree-planting exercise had to be documented and verified through video footage and photographic evidence.
Although Mr Kibiwott had set a target of planting 1,434 trees per hour, he managed only 822 in the first hour and 5,628 by the sixth hour.
He, however, gained momentum and by the 12th hour had reached 12,786 trees, 18,600 by the 18th hour, and 23,326 by the 24th hour to smash the current record.
“We can confirm that the environmentalist achieved 23,326 trees, surpassing the current global record of 23,060,” said John Roni, North Rift KFS Head of Conservancy, after the verification exercise by the independent observers.
Kibiwott’s record is, however, subject to ratification by the London-based record authority after a rigorous verification exercise.
According to a schedule released by the event organisers, Kibiwott’s attempt was gruelling but precise. He planted trees continuously for six hours before taking a one-hour rest, then resumed for another three hours.
World Record Attempt: Hilary Kiplagat Kibiwott during the attempt to plant 24,000 tree seedlings in 24 hours, at Kessup Forest in Elgeyo Marakwet County on April 22, 2026.
Photo credit: Jared Nyataya | Nation Media Group
“The initiative goes beyond an attempt to set a world record; it is part of a sustainable environmental conservation effort,” Mr Kibiwott explained in an earlier interview.
Despite the physical toll, the atmosphere at Kessup Forest remained electric, with a group of women in colourful attire leading chants and songs, urging the environmentalist to soldier on with his attempt.
The father of one was born in Sesia Village in Moiben, Uasin Gishu County. He is an alumnus of Sesia Primary School, St Anthony Boys Moiben, and St Teresa’s Boys in Nairobi.
Kibiwott’s journey in environmental conservation was inspired by his father, Mzee Musa Komen, who was once a charcoal burner and dealer.
For Mr Kibiwott, cutting trees to produce charcoal contributed to deforestation, and he was determined to reverse the trend.
To achieve that goal, he sensitised his family members and later the wider community on the importance of tree planting and protection.
Mzee Komen, who was present and at the forefront cheering on his son, has since given up the charcoal business and thrown his weight behind his son’s environmental conservation efforts.
Hilary Kiplagat Kibiwott is congratulated by Treasury Principal Secretary Dr Chris Kiptoo (second right) and others upon completing his tree planting bid.
Photo credit: Jarred Nyataya| Nation Media Group
“I now engage in farming activities and encourage my son to continue with his environmental protection efforts,” said Mzee Komen.
Mr Kibiwott’s involvement in tree planting dates back to his childhood, when he planted and cared for trees as a hobby.
“Tree planting and environmental protection have been in my heart since I was young. It is part of my passion, and I am determined to take it to the global level,” said Mr Kibiwott in an interview after the gruelling 24-hour tree-planting exercise.
Kibiwott’s passion for conservation later saw him team up with 35 other youths to form the Green Earth Ambassadors Foundation in Kenya, whose motto is: “Plant trees today, tomorrow, and forever for a better future.”
The foundation focuses on climate resilience, forest restoration, and water catchment protection, mainly in Elgeyo Marakwet County.
“As a foundation, we have been engaged in restoring degraded forests as part of climate action and environmental conservation,” said Robert Lagat, one of the foundation members.
Mr Kibiwott’s dedication to environmental conservation has earned him recognition, including a Heroes Award at the county level as a champion of climate action.
“Our mission is to nurture environmental sustainability, with a goal of planting a million trees and protecting forests,” said Mr Lagat.
Kibiwott told ‘Climate Action’ that the decision to contest the Guinness World Record in tree planting was driven by the need to motivate young people to participate in afforestation programmes.
Guinness World Record attempt: Hilary Kiplagat Biwott during his bid to plant 24,000 tree seedlings in 24 hours at Kessup Forest.
Photo credit: Jarred Nyataya| Nation Media Group
“My vision is to build a youth-led environmental movement that restores degraded ecosystems, safeguards water resources, and strengthens climate resilience,” explained Mr Kibiwott.
While many might expect rivalry in such record-breaking pursuits, Mr Kibiwott revealed that he remains in close contact with Mr Antoine, the current world record holder, who has in fact been a key source of motivation.
“In fact, Mr Antoine called me the night before I started the challenge and motivated me to take up the task,” said Mr Kibiwott, adding that the Canadian had been willing to attend the event.
He also disclosed plans by Mr Antoine to take up another challenge of planting 4,000 mangrove trees in the Coastal region.
Mr Kibiwott said his next mission is to embark on a tree-planting drive across the 47 counties to sensitise young people on environmental conservation and climate action.
“There is a need for all Kenyans to participate in environmental protection, and I want to take the lead by growing trees in all 47 counties,” said Mr Kibiwott, beaming with joy after hitting 23,326 trees to register the new global mark, pending ratification by Guinness.
According to Mr Kibiwott’s wife, Florence Jepkosgei Kiptoo, their family life has revolved around tree planting and environmental protection.
“We got to know each other during a tree-planting exercise to help restore the degraded Kapkobol Forest, and our relationship eventually turned into marriage. Since then, we have been actively taking part in afforestation programmes,” said Ms Kiptoo.
She described her husband’s victory as hard-earned and challenged other young people to take part in environmental conservation.
“I was personally involved in the entire planning exercise. I could not afford to take chances by delegating some of those delicate duties aimed at breaking a global record,” added Ms Kiptoo, saying that environmental and climate action issues are close to their hearts.
