Environment Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale speaks at
Kaberua D.E.B Primary School in Kapsokwony, Bungoma County, October 7, 2024/HANDOUT
Duale said the project will support local communities, enhance agricultural productivity, and tackle environmental degradation.
Duale was speaking at Kaberua D.E.B Primary School in Kapsokwony, Bungoma County.
The five-year project is funded through the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and supported by the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).
“Mt Elgon is not just a landscape, it is a vital water tower, a biodiversity hotspot, and an essential resource for our communities and nation,” Duale said.
Duale declared November 7 as Mt. Elgon Day as a symbol of Kenya’s commitment.
The day is dedicated to raising awareness and rallying efforts to conserve this critical ecosystem.
"This day is a call to action for all stakeholders to come together, reflect on our progress, and reaffirm our commitment to restoring and conserving the Mt. Elgon Forest ecosystem," he said.
Duale noted that Mt Elgon Day should be a day of unity and action, a day to honour shared responsibility, and to protect the invaluable ecosystem.
Environment Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka and other officials at Kaberua D.E.B Primary School in Kapsokwony, Bungoma County, October 7, 2024/HANDOUT
“I am issuing an immediate and total ban on cultivation in Cheptais and any other legally designated natural forest areas. These ecosystems must be safeguarded to maintain their ecological integrity and biodiversity,” he said.
This signals the government’s commitment to strict environmental protection.
The new project, a collaborative effort with co-funding and in-kind contributions from Bungoma and Trans Nzoia counties, seeks to rejuvenate the forest’s biodiversity while providing employment opportunities for nearby communities.
With the short rains season underway, Duale urged Kenyans to plant trees, aligning with the government’s ambitious campaign to plant 15 billion trees by 2032.
This programme, part of the Kenya Kwanza administration’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), aims to strengthen climate resilience while generating jobs and empowering communities.
The Kenya Forest Service (KFS), in partnership with Community Forest Associations (CFAs), will play a key role in establishing six large tree nurseries with an annual capacity of two million seedlings each.
Additionally, Kaberua Tree Nursery will be expanded from a 500,000 to a one-million-seedling capacity, the CS said.
“Our forests are not mere resources to exploit; they are the foundation of our national well-being and future. It is imperative that we all take responsibility and work together to protect them,” Duale stated.
He noted that those involved in illegal activities, whether government officials or locals would face severe repercussions.
Bungoma Governor Ken Lusaka echoed the sentiments of Duale, expressing his county’s commitment to restoring Mt Elgon Forest.
Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka speaks at Kaberua D.E.B Primary School in Kapsokwony, Bungoma County, October 7, 2024/HANDOUT
Other key figures present at the launch include Forestry PS Gitonga Mugambi, Bungoma Deputy Governor Janepher Mbatiany, Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa, and Chief Conservator of Forests Alex Lemarkoko.
They reinforced the call for unity and collective action to safeguard Mt Elgon for future generations.
Duale acknowledged all project partners and local community members, for their dedication towards the initiative.
