Kenya’s untapped biodiversity faces biopiracy and climate challenges

Biodiversity refers to the variety of life forms and their interactions within a given habitat, which includes plants and animals that coexist to sustain life.

President William Ruto has frequently emphasised Kenya's exceptional biodiversity on the global stage, emphasising the importance of its untouched ecosystems in climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts.

Citizen Digital recently travelled to Baringo County in Kenya's Rift Valley, which is rich in biological diversity. Despite this wealth, half of the local population lives in poverty and cannot take advantage of the area's resources.

Our visit revealed a troubling issue: the theft of biological resources that local communities rely on. Baringo residents have revealed that their communal resources are being commercially exploited, a practice known as biopiracy.

Biopiracy is the illegal collection of indigenous plants, animals, or microbes for profit without sharing the proceeds with local communities.

In Kapkun, near the Mangar Geo Site, we were greeted by a Tugen community entertainment group. They hope that our coverage will deter exploiters while attracting legitimate investors.

Daniel Kibet, manager of the Mangar Geo Site, showed us a 20-acre plot of natural aloe vera, which is heavily targeted by biopiracy due to its global popularity. Aloe vera is well-known for its medicinal properties and applications in a variety of products, but the local community lacks the resources to capitalise on it.

Residents believe that biopiracy is carried out by outsiders who use local contacts to harvest valuable resources such as aloe vera, indigenous herbal trees, and rare species before leaving without sharing the benefits.

“They come as visitors, stay at Koriema shopping center, and then use unsuspecting locals to harvest resources for them before disappearing,” said Kibet.

In addition to aloe vera, the Mangar Geo Site is home to rare species like Red Patas monkeys and Greater Kudus. The Endorois community has suffered previous losses, including a 1992 incident in which a British scientist exploited a microbe from Lake Bogoria without compensating the community.

Johanna Karatu, a community elder, stated, "Researchers secretly profited from the bacteria at Lake Bogoria and only revealed their earnings later. We have seen numerous resources taken without our knowledge, and a recent attempt to steal Greater Kudus was foiled."

Kamgoin Conservancy, located 4 kilometres from Kabarnet town, spans 35 acres in Kapropita Ward and is a biodiversity hotspot with a rich history. The conservancy protects wildlife and indigenous trees such as African Oak and Sandalwood, which are under threat from illegal harvesting.

William Kimosop, Baringo County Chief Warden, stated that Kamgoin's healthy cicada population indicates a pollution-free environment. However, commercialisation and climate change endanger these ancient trees and plants.

Susan Jepkemoi, CEO of the Baringo County Conservancies Association (BCCA), emphasised the importance of protecting endangered and endemic species. BCCA encourages conservation organisations to identify and protect these critical species for future use.

While Baringo residents welcome investment, they are increasingly wary of exploitation.

They have created a bio-protocol, which is a detailed document that outlines the process of conducting scientific research and ensures that any benefits are shared with the community.

Communities are increasingly turning to conservation organisations for oversight and guidance on how to best use local resources.