Gov't intensifies efforts to restore Mau Forest Complex

The initiative falls under the broader 15 billion tree campaign launched by President William Ruto, which seeks to increase the country’s forest cover within the next decade.

Speaking in Nairobi, Environment, Forest and Climate Change Cabinet Secretary Dr. Deborah Mulongo Barasa said the restoration of the Mau Forest will revive biodiversity and strengthen livelihoods.

“Its restoration speaks peace, speaks regional integration, speaks cross-border collaboration and will increase and secure households,” she noted. “Restoring Mau Forest is not just an environmental duty, it is an economic necessity and an insurance for protecting GDP growth and securing food systems.”

Environment Principal Secretary Eng. Festus Ngeno described the project as a “game-changing legacy,” adding that it integrates forest restoration with community livelihood programs. He revealed that the government targets to reclaim 3,313 hectares of degraded land and has already initiated weekly tree-growing exercises in the area.

Njoro MP Charity Kathambi Chepkwony acknowledged the challenges facing conservation efforts but urged resilience in advancing the restoration agenda.

The Mau Forest restoration is expected to become a model for climate resilience and sustainable development across the country, reaffirming the government’s commitment to safeguarding Kenya’s ecological and economic future.