The government has also enlisted the military, prisons, community forest associations, and the private sector to support the nationwide reforestation effort.
Members of Parliament will be required to allocate 5 percent of their Constituency Development Fund (CDF) to tree planting in schools.
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The nurseries will produce fruit tree seedlings and other species suited to different ecological zones as Kenya races to achieve its target of 15 billion trees by 2032. About 100 million trees are expected to be planted today.
"I must commend the people of Kenya that in the last two years, we have planted 1.06 billion trees. Given the target we have, we must up our game," he stated.
The president added that the tree-planting campaign is not only part of his administration's climate agenda but also crucial for food security, job creation, and sustainable development.
"Climate change is real and is undermining the development of countries and communities. It has caused frequent floods, droughts, wildfires, and so many other disruptions."
On Thursday, Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok directed all 35,570 public and private primary schools to plant at least 2,000 fruit trees each on Mazingira Day.
"Learners are expected to be in school to take part in the activity as part of their contribution to national environmental goals," Bitok said.
First Lady Rachel Ruto, Environment Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa, and PS Bitok were among dignitaries who attended the State House event, joined by pupils from State House Primary School.
Cabinet secretaries and senior government officials are leading similar exercises in their former primary schools across the country.