Run for Oloolua: PS Kimotho launches ambitious plan to revive threatened forest

A renewed push to restore and protect the Oloolua Forest kicked off on Saturday, as National Treasury Principal Secretary Chris Kiptoo flagged off the Oloolua Forest Run.

The event marked the start of a broader conservation campaign aimed at safeguarding one of the region’s key ecological and eco-tourism assets, which has faced mounting pressure from encroachment and environmental degradation.

The run drew participation from senior government officials, including Principal Secretaries Festus Ng’eno (Environment and Climate Change), Abraham Sing'Oei (Foreign Affairs), and Patrick Mariru (Defence), alongside development partners, environmental advocates, and members of the public.

Their presence highlighted a growing shift within government, treating environmental conservation not as a side note, but as a shared national responsibility cutting across sectors.

In a significant boost to restoration efforts, Dr. Kiptoo also flagged off 10,000 tree seedlings set to be planted within the forest, targeting degraded areas in a bid to rebuild ecological resilience and preserve biodiversity.

The ‘Run for Oloolua’ initiative, spearheaded by Irrigation Principal Secretary Ephantus Kimotho, was conceived as a response to increasing threats to the forest’s survival.

Beyond awareness, the programme is designed to mobilize resources and rally community action toward long-term conservation.

At its core is a sustainability framework rooted in circular economy principles. Planned measures include the installation of waste segregation points, promotion of reusable picnic kits, and partnerships with recycling firms to convert plastic waste into reusable materials; an effort to keep the forest clean while nudging visitors toward responsible consumption.

The initiative also extends to surrounding communities, introducing solutions meant to reduce reliance on forest resources.

Households will benefit from clean energy technologies such as solar lighting and energy-efficient cooking stoves, aimed at cutting down firewood use and curbing deforestation.

Farmers in the wider Ngong area are set to receive support through climate-smart agriculture practices, including drip irrigation, agroforestry, and improved soil management - interventions expected to boost productivity while protecting the environment.

Officials estimate the programme will directly and indirectly benefit about 1.5 million people, including roughly 300,000 households.

Expected outcomes include improved water access, better air quality, expanded eco-tourism opportunities, and strengthened livelihoods.

Even so, stakeholders cautioned that the success of the initiative will hinge on sustained funding, strong partnerships, and active community participation.

If fully realised, the Oloolua CARE programme could become a blueprint for urban forest conservation—proof that, sometimes, saving a forest begins not with a speech, but with a run.