KAKAMEGA, Kenya—With the financial and technical assistance of Rhino Ark, the Government of Japan, the MPESA Foundation, the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), the Kenya Forest Service (KFS), and the County Governments of Kakamega and Vihiga, the Kenyan government is using the National Environment Trust Fund (NETFUND) to fence Kakamega Forest.
Y News understands that Kakamega Forest is Kenya’s sole tropical rainforest, located northwest of Nairobi in Kakamega, Vihiga, and Nandi counties.
This mid-altitude forest is the easternmost outlier of the Congo Basin woods and has over 300 bird species, over 400 butterfly species, and a wide range of primates.
Meanwhile, in phase one of the project, 15 km of the 24,819-hectare forest’s gazetted perimeter, which stretches over Vihiga and Kakamega Counties, has been fenced thus far.
The second phase, which started in June of this year, will fence 34 miles.
Why CS Aden Duale pitched a tent in Western Kenya
Late last week, Environment, Climate Change and Forestry Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale spent the day in Vihiga County with area Governor Wilber Ottichilo for an inspection visit of the ongoing fencing of Kibiri Forest Block of Kakamega Forest and planting of 15,000 trees in Maragoli Hills Forest by Ministry staff, partners and the community.
Y News has established that Vihiga and Kakamega counties have contributed Sh10 million and Sh25 million to the fencing project thus far.
Governor Ottichilo said that Vihiga County’s contribution to President William Ruto’s initiative of 15 billion trees by 2032 has seen the devolved unit surpass the national constitutionally accepted forest cover of 10pc to 35.9pc.
“The Goal was 2.3 million trees. We have achieved growth of 4.6 million trees so far,” Governor Ottichilo announced.
According to the county boss, this has been dramatically achieved through:
School Greening programme, tree planting exercise in public spaces and indigenous tree growing exercise.
“We continue to sustain environmental conservation, mitigating against the adverse effects of Climate change,” said the governor.
Why Mama Rachel Ruto adopted a section of the forest
First Lady Rachel Ruto announced in March 2023 that she had taken up 200 hectares of the Kakamega forest.
Mama Rachel announced the decision at the International Day of Forests. She dismissed land-grabbing claims from a section of local politicians while citing her resolve to plant 500 million trees within the next ten years as a long-term measure to fight climate change.
“As part of the Office of the First Lady’s commitment to growing 500 million trees by 2032, I have adopted 200 hectares of Kakamega forest for restoration,” said Mama Rachel.
Nonetheless, First Lady Rachel Ruto’s plan to adopt 200 hectares of the Kakamega Forest area drew criticism from environmental organisations.
The Defenders Coalition interpreted plans to adopt and fence the forest under the pretence of re-establishing the ecosystem as a sign of trouble.
Speaking during the tree-planting event in Kakamega Forest, the group stated that Kenyans and locals require additional clarification on the First Lady’s adoption of the forest and renewed efforts to enclose the forest ecosystem.
