With 60,000 Trees, Who’s Afraid of Retirement?

While many people spend sleepless nights worrying about life after retirement, one man in Kwale County, Kenya, has already secured his future — not with stocks or real estate, but with trees.

Kibugi in his farm

Meet Joseph Kibugi, a 53-year-old forestry extension officer from Mombasa, who has turned his passion for trees into a thriving, self-sustaining business. On his 51-acre farm in Mivumoni, Kwale, Joseph has planted over 60,000 trees, combining commercial forestry with fish and livestock farming to create multiple streams of income.

🌱 A Passion That Took Root Early

Joseph’s love for trees began when he was just 12 years old, tending to seedlings on his father’s farm in Naivasha. That childhood hobby blossomed into a lifelong commitment to green living and sustainable forestry.

Today, his farm is a thriving ecosystem boasting:

• 1,000 teak trees

• 27,000 casuarinas

• 7,000 eucalyptus

• 1,000 Christmas trees

• 100 arborea

• 3,000 grevillea (graveria) trees at various growth stages

As we walked through his forest, baboons swung playfully from branch to branch — a living testament to how one man’s vision can revive nature and inspire a community.

🐠 From Trees to Fish and Beyond

Joseph has diversified his farm with a fish pond, a well, and a seedling nursery that cost him around KSh 350,000. Around his serene home, about 35,000 young seedlings grow under protective shades — his own “forest-in-the-making.”

A trained forester from Londiani Forest College, Joseph dedicates his off days to planting and caring for his trees. He estimates that an acre of well-irrigated ornamental trees can earn a farmer up to KSh 1.2 million per year.

💰 From Passion to Profit

So far, Joseph has invested approximately KSh 2 million into his farm. He credits his success to partnerships with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and the Agricultural Finance Corporation (AFC), and support from the local community.

“AFC gave me the start-up capital of KSh 300,000 in 2008 to establish the forest, and another KSh 500,000 in 2011 to add livestock. WWF provided expert guidance,” he explains.

Among his prized ornamental trees are the Peach Ixora (KSh 250), Bottle Palm (KSh 7,500), Travellers Palm (KSh 2,500), Ashok, and Holly Plant (KSh 250). His Fish Tail Palms and Dwarf Coconuts—which mature in just three years—fetch KSh 1,500 each, while the charming Queen of the Night tree sells at KSh 250.

His main customers include tree farmers, beach resorts, and landscaping companies in Ukunda and the coastal region.

🔁 Turning Buyers into Growers

“The success story,” Joseph says proudly, “is that people who once bought poles from me are now growing their own trees.”

He began collecting tree varieties while working in Msambweni, exchanging seeds and seedlings with farmers across Kenya and even from Thailand, Mauritius, and Tanzania. This network has helped him grow an impressive collection of over 50 ornamental species on half an acre of his farm.

Without aggressive marketing, Joseph still earns between KSh 100,000 and KSh 120,000 per month, thanks to his repeat customers.

🌍 Building a Community of Forest Owners

As the chairman of the South Coast Forest Owners Association, which brings together 50 members managing over 5,000 acres, Joseph is leading a movement to cut out brokers and ensure farmers get fair value for their trees.

He also advises new farmers to be realistic:

“An acre of casuarinas can hold about 1,000 trees, and only around 60% mature for sale. Many people exaggerate market prices — so do your math carefully.”

🔮 A Green Future

Joseph believes the future of tree farming in Kenya is bright—especially with rising demand for timber and charcoal.

“Urban areas need huge amounts of charcoal, and since we import most of our timber, local farmers have a golden opportunity,” he says.

In addition to timber and ornamental trees, Joseph also harvests honey from his forest and grows trees on a six-acre farm in Kinangop, Nyandarua County, where he has already planted four acres for timber and poles.

When he finally retires, Joseph plans to establish a landscaping company and a farm and forestry products enterprise—proving that with 60,000 trees, retirement is something to look forward to, not fear.

🌳 Takeaway

Joseph Kibugi’s story is a reminder that sustainable farming isn’t just good for the planet—it’s a smart investment in your future. With a little land, passion, and patience, anyone can grow a retirement plan—literally.