Kaptagat Community Disowns Dr. Chris Kiptoo in Strong Protest Statement

 

By Koech Caleb (Arap Simba) – Resident of Kaptagat, Youth Leader & Environmentalist

A storm is brewing in the heart of Elgeyo Marakwet as members of the Kaptagat Ecosystem Forest Community have come out strongly to reject any association with Dr. Chris Kiptoo, the Principal Secretary at the National Treasury, in matters pertaining to forest conservation and community representation in the region.

In a powerful and unequivocal statement released this week, the community categorically distanced itself from what it described as misleading narratives and unearned accolades being attributed to Dr. Kiptoo concerning environmental conservation efforts in the Kaptagat ecosystem.

“We, the Kaptagat Ecosystem Forest Community, wish to categorically distance ourselves from any affiliation, endorsement, or association with the office of the Principal Secretary, National Treasury, Dr. Chris Kiptoo, in matters relating to the management, conservation, and representation of the Kaptagat forest and its people,” the statement read in part.

The statement goes further to reject any attempts to label Dr. Kiptoo as a conservation "hero" within the Kaptagat ecosystem, describing such claims as neither reflective of community sentiment nor supported by any meaningful contribution or sacrifice made on the ground.

“Such recognition is neither reflective of the will of the community nor backed by tangible evidence of service or sacrifice for the wellbeing of our forest heritage,” the community asserts.

Perhaps most notably, the community has challenged public claims that 300,000 avocado seedlings were distributed to 28,000 households within the area. According to the statement, no such seedlings were received by any household within the Kaptagat Ecosystem Forest Community.

“The purported distribution… did not reach the Kaptagat Ecosystem Forest Community. Any public claims to that effect are misleading, inaccurate, and a deliberate misrepresentation of the truth,” the community clarified.

A Call for Integrity and Truth

The protest statement ends with a firm stand from the community, asserting their role as the true custodians of the forest and rejecting any external attempt to rewrite their narrative or hijack their environmental legacy.

“As custodians of the Kaptagat forest, we will not allow our voices to be muted, our identity to be co-opted, or our lived realities to be distorted,” the community said.

The move has sparked wide conversation among conservation circles, raising questions about transparency, representation, and accountability in Kenya’s environmental initiatives.

As a youth leader and environmentalist, I stand in solidarity with my fellow community members in demanding truth, respect, and rightful recognition for those who genuinely work to preserve our natural heritage.

Koech Caleb (Arap Simba)
Youth Leader | Environmental Advocate | Resident of Kaptagat