- The highest fundraiser during the competition that took place on Saturday in Torosei, Kajiado county, was Adil Khawaja in car number 44, who helped mobilise Sh175,100,595.
- He was followed by Peter Kinyua in car number 23 with Sh29,719,940.
The protection and conservation of water towers in the country has received a major boost after over Sh300 million was mobilised from the annual 4x4 off-road completion event.
The organisers of the event, Rhino Charge, announced on Sunday that they have mobilised Sh325,856,094.
The highest fundraiser during the competition that took place on Saturday in Torosei, Kajiado county, was Adil Khawaja in car number 44, who helped mobilise Sh175,100,595, followed by Peter Kinyua in car number 23 with Sh29,719,940.
The award ceremony, which took place on Sunday, was graced by Environment CS Soipan Tuya, who represented President William Ruto.
Kajiado Governor Joseph Ole Lenku, Kenya Wildlife Service director general Erustus Kanga and Kenya Forest Service Chief Conservator Alex Lemarkoko were also in attendance.
Tuya said partnerships between various stakeholders are crucial to the protection and conservation of the country's natural resources.
“The intention of the Rhino Charge was to protect the black rhino. But because of the dynamic nature of the climate crisis that we find ourselves in, it turned into a diversity action towards conservation,” Tuya said, adding that such partnerships must be strengthened.
Tuya decried that most of the ecosystems in the country are highly degraded.
“As a government, we have seriously prioritised protection of our ecosystems by lowering degradation and combating forest crimes,” she said, adding that the number of rangers that were enhanced has dealt a major blow to forest crimes.
Tuya said the ecosystem restoration by the state, where 15 billion trees will be planted in the next 10 years, was on course.
The CS announced that Ruto had donated Sh2 million to go towards the Torosei community project.
Governor Lenku said wildlife existed many years ago, from the Mara all the way to Tsavo through Amboseli.
Most wildlife corridors and dispersal areas have, however, been encroached.
He said the Maa economic block, which he chairs, is currently having a conversation on supporting and encouraging communities to open wildlife corridors.
Lenku attributed the blockage to an increasing human population as well as developments.
The governor said the community has suffered long from human wildlife conflicts, and as such, KWS should consider having a ranger post in the area.
Lemarkoko said KFS will continue ensuring that the country's natural resources are well managed.
He said the rhino charge has over the years had positive impacts on the protection and conservation of the country's natural resources, such as water towers and forests.
Lemarkoko said the proceeds of the event have helped to fence off some of the critical water towers, which have been seriously degraded and are now regenerating.
He cited Eburu Forest as one of the success stories.
Kanga said the charge has helped to protect ecosystems that host wildlife.
He cited Mount Kenya, saying it is fully fenced.
South Western Mau is being fenced as well as Kakamega, Kanga said.
Kanga said KWS has continued to support rhino charges over the years.
Christian Lambrechts, Rhino Ark's executive director, said the charge has been instrumental in raising funds for conservation.
Image: GILBERT KOECH
A total of 58 cars took part in the event.
Rhino Charge chairman said the first Rhino Charge raised only Sh250,000, this amount increased tremendously over the years to reach Sh181 million in the 2018 event.
In 2018, the event helped raised Sh181,401,055 as compared to Sh154,704,131 in 2019.
Sh141,083,494 was raised in 2021 and Sh156,279,489 in 2022.
The 34th edition of the event last year helped raise Sh173 million towards the completion of the 61-km-long section of the Mount Kenya Electric Fence in Nyeri county, the construction of the Kakamega Forest electric fence, the maintenance of the 758 kilometres of electric fence built to date in Aberdare, Mt Kenya, Eburu and Kakamega, and the expansion of community patrol teams to include South Western Mau, among many other activities.
Projects funded thanks to the Rhino Charge funds include the construction of the world longest game-proof fences, such as the 450km Mount Kenya Electric Fence of which 300km have been built to date.
The funds have also been used in the maintenance of the completed 400km Aberdare Electric Fence and 43.3km perimeter electric fence around Mount Eburu, as well as for the ongoing construction for the fencing of Kakamega Forest in Western Kenya.
Lambrechts said they collect access fee for all the cars during Rhino Charge.