Dedan Kimathi Foundation Commits to Major Reforestation Drive at Mau Forest Conservation Roundtable

 

The Dedan Kimathi Foundation today marked a pivotal milestone in its environmental conservation journey during the Media Development Partners' roundtable for the Mau Forest Complex Integrated Conservation and Livelihood Improvement Program (MFC-ICLIP) — a ten-year, community-centered initiative aimed at restoring the degraded landscapes of Kenya’s most critical forest ecosystem.

The event, hosted at Radisson Blu Hotel in Nairobi, brought together key environmental stakeholders, including Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change & Forestry, Hon. Deborah M. Barasa, Principal Secretary for Environment and Climate Change, Dr. Eng. Festus Ng’eno, PS for Forestry, PS for Wildlife, heads of government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and representatives from the private sector.

The Mau Forest Complex, which accounts for nearly 40% of Kenya’s forest cover, is the origin of 12 major rivers and serves as an ecological lifeline for both the Maasai Mara and Serengeti ecosystems. With an estimated economic value of Ksh.197 billion, the preservation and restoration of this forest are seen as crucial to the country's environmental and economic stability.

During the roundtable, Dedan Kimathi Foundation CEO, Ms. Evelyn Kimathi, reaffirmed the foundation’s unwavering commitment to the MFC-ICLIP initiative. She pledged the Foundation’s support in the form of capacity building, livelihood improvement contributions, tree seedlings donations, and technical expertise to help restore over 33,138 hectares of degraded forest land by the end of the program’s ten-year span.

“Our history is rooted in the forest. The fight for Kenya’s freedom was waged from the forests of the Aberdares and Mt. Kenya,” said Ms. Kimathi. “Today, we are waging a new battle — one against climate change — and our forests will once again be at the center of our victory.”

The Foundation announced plans to produce and donate 1 million tree seedlings towards the program — a significant contribution aligned with its larger ambition of growing 50 million trees by 2032, supporting Kenya’s goal of achieving 30% national tree cover.

The Foundation’s involvement underscores the vital role of collaborative partnerships between government, civil society, and the private sector in tackling climate change and safeguarding Kenya’s natural heritage.

The roundtable served as a call to action for all stakeholders to rally behind MFC-ICLIP and similar climate resilience programs, emphasizing that sustainable environmental conservation must go hand-in-hand with community development and livelihoods improvement.