Over 150,000 acres of Cherangany Hills set for restoration

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba during a past event in Nairobi/COURTESY

More than 153,000 acres of degraded escarpments and riparian land within the Cherangany Hills ecosystem are set to be restored under a new Sh14.7 billion environmental conservation programme.

The Environment Ministry said the initiative, dubbed the Cherangany Hills Ecosystem Restoration for Livelihood Improvement, Sustainability and Harmony (CHERISH) Programme, seeks to rehabilitate degraded land.

The programme will officially be launched on Friday by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki at Tebe Grounds in Kapyego ward in Elgeyo Marakwet county.

According to the ministry, the initiative is spearheaded by the Onesmus Kipchumba Murkomen Foundation in partnership with communities and other stakeholders.

“Through the CHERISH programme, the OKM Foundation seeks to restore 62,038 hectares of degraded escarpments and riparian land, protect 20 springs and water sources, and support the creation of over 500,000 green jobs for youth through initiatives such as beekeeping, agroforestry and ecotourism,” the ministry said in a statement.

The restoration initiative comes in the wake of the deadly Chesongoch landslides in Elgeyo Marakwet county that left at least 26 people dead and several others missing.

Cherangany Hills, one of Kenya’s five major water towers, covers about 414,928 hectares across Elgeyo Marakwet, West Pokot, Trans Nzoia and Uasin Gishu counties.

The ecosystem has suffered years of degradation caused by unsustainable human activities, resulting in destruction of forest cover, biodiversity loss, declining agricultural productivity and recurring landslides.

The ministry said about 15 per cent of the ecosystem is currently severely degraded, while 67 per cent is moderately degraded. An estimated 41,547 hectares of forest cover and 76,757 hectares of grasslands have already been lost.

Environment CS Deborah Barasa is expected to attend the launch, while Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen will host the event.

The launch coincides with the International Day for Biodiversity 2026 celebrations themed “Harmony with Nature and Sustainable Development”.

The ministry said the programme aligns with the government’s climate action agenda, including President William Ruto’s 15-billion-tree growing campaign.

Ahead of the launch, organisers held the inaugural CHERISH 10km Peace and Conservation Race at Tebe grounds on Thursday to promote environmental conservation, peace and community participation in ecosystem restoration efforts.

The event featured 10km, 5km and 2km races as well as a corporate relay category, with winners receiving cash prizes and awards.

Kenya’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Ida Odinga, attended the event.

The ministry described CHERISH as a long-term, community-driven effort aimed at restoring ecological balance, strengthening climate resilience and improving livelihoods for communities dependent on the Cherangany ecosystem.