A section of the electric fence that was vandalised near Sabor area in Kaptagat Forest /MATHEWS NDANYI
A section of residents of Elgeyo Marakwet county have protested the destruction of a part of the electric fence around Kaptagat Forest by uknown people.
They said the fence was cut and damaged causing a set back to the fencing project being undertaken by the Kenya Forest Service (KFS).
The residents have linked the vandalism of sections of the fence to heightened grassroots political realignments ahead of the 2027 general election and what they describe as a wave of misinformation surrounding forest conservation in the critical water tower.
The vandalism which occurred on the night of July 21 in Sabor in Keiyo South constituency, came just days after protests over the fencing programme in Kitany, prompting concerns among local communities that a successful conservation initiative was becoming entangled in politics.
"It is political interests that have led to the fence being cut. Our message to those in government and to politicians is simple: keep your political fights away from our community. Sort your political differences out. We do not want debates about one term or two terms brought here. Let President Ruto complete his term in office, then we, as residents, will decide who deserves our support." Said Gilbert Motokaa, a resident of Lower Sabor.
The fencing is aimed at enhancing the Kaptagat Forest Conservation Programme, which is being spearheaded by PS for Finance Chris Kiptoo and residents for the past 10 years.
Residents Monica Chirchir, Gidein Kipchumna, Ben Serem and Carolyn Biwott said they had no problem with the fencing because it would keep away intruders.
“Those who are destroying the fence are not residents of this area but people there are people who have been sent to make us look like we are opposed to the fencing," Serem said.
The initiative, which started a month ago will see an electrical fence erected around the forest area covering about 300km.
The fencing has however elicited mixed feelings from residents with some carrying out rival protests to oppose the fencing project.
The anti-fencing group claims that they are being blocked from full access to the forest yet they had been conserving it for many decades.
But the community members at Sabor said the fencing was not interfering with their user rights as agreed with KFS.
“This fence was erected in some of the areas more than two months ago yet we have not been blocked from accessing the forest in any way,” Serem said.
KFS and community forest associations have assured residents that there would be adequate gates allowing access into the forest at all times.
“We have our cultural shrines used for circumcision and we are accessing those areas freely as usual. The fencing is even enhancing security for us in this area,” Kipchumba said.
He said more sensitisation forums should be held in the area to enable those opposed to the fencing to understand the initiative and conservation plan.
The residents dismissed fears that wild animals would be introduced in the area noting that they had been working well with CFAs and KFS to ensure mutual benefits from the conservation initiative.
Chiefs in the area led by Moses Keittany of Kittany location said they had enhanced surveillance in the area to ensure the fence is protected.
“The fencing is a community and KFS initiative and we are working with all stakeholders to ensure its success. The security teams are working to get those damaging the fence,” he said.
Before the fencing started KFS carried out extensive public participation forums for residents who were also taken to other regions for benchmarking in forests, which were fenced several years ago.
An elder from Kaptagat rejected suggestions that local residents living at the edge of the forest were responsible for the vandalism.
"What happened did not please us at all. Here in Lower Sabor, Tendwo and Tembelion, those actions do not represent us. The people who did it came from elsewhere, and we do not know them. Our children were not involved," he said.
Some residents are now calling for another round of public participation to address concerns and counter misinformation.
"Please come back and continue engaging the community until everyone clearly understands, because some people may not have fully grasped the information. If need be, organise multiple public participation forums,” Mzee Ben Serem said.
The residents have appealed for dialogue, saying renewed public engagement would help address lingering concerns while protecting a community-led conservation programme that has become a recognised model for restoring forests and improving local livelihoods.
PS Kiptoo says the initiative has reclaimed much of the forest that had been degraded through human activities.
He said he grew up in the area and saw how the Kaptagat Forest was being degraded quickly, posing a threat to its existence as a key water tower.
“It’s now 10 years since I decided to take leadership and personal responsibility at my level to help conserve the Kaptagat Forest, and I am so proud of the work we have achieved with the support from the community and other stakeholders,” Kiptoo said.
The PS said a lot of progress had been made to restore the forest and also to improve the livelihoods of many residents.
“The 10 years has not been a journey in futility, and I have a lot of fulfillment, but I know there is still much more we have to do,” he said.
The conservation is being integrated with sports and other components, and it will involve the local community.
The residents are being assisted to engage in rearing of modern dairy cows, use of biogas and also growing high-value crops.
The community empowerment initiatives are aimed at reducing pressure on the forest which will not be used as a source of firewood and as grazing fields.
