By Njeri Irungu
Kenya has renewed its commitment to restoring the Mount Elgon ecosystem, one of the country’s most critical water towers, with the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry hosting the Mt. Elgon Day 2025 Breakfast Meeting this morning at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi.
The meeting, presided over by Cabinet Secretary Dr. Deborah M. Barasa, convened senior government officials, development partners, conservation organisations, and community representatives to build momentum for the large-scale restoration of the mountain’s forests and water catchment areas. Dr. Barasa was joined by Principal Secretaries Gitonga Mugambi (Forestry), Dr. Eng. Festus K. Ng’eno (Environment and Climate Change), and Harry Kimtai (Mining), who collectively underscored that the protection of Mount Elgon requires coordinated national effort.
Mount Elgon, which sits between Bungoma and Trans Nzoia counties and extends across the Kenya-Uganda border, remains a vital ecological and economic lifeline. Its rivers feed communities and farmlands across Western Kenya, while its forests and biodiversity support livelihoods and cultural heritage. However, years of deforestation, encroachment, and unsustainable land use have accelerated environmental degradation, threatening water availability, climate stability, and local livelihoods.
To bolster restoration efforts, the Ministry announced that Mt. Elgon Day will now be commemorated annually on November 7, forming the foundation of a coordinated 10-year rehabilitation programme. The initiative aims to restore over 103,000 hectares of degraded landscapes, strengthen community stewardship, and plant 10 million trees each year as part of Kenya’s broader 15 Billion Trees Campaign (2022–2032).
Speaking during the meeting, PS Dr. Eng. Festus Ng’eno highlighted the gravity and urgency of the restoration agenda.
“Mount Elgon is more than an environmental treasure; it is a lifeline of biodiversity, culture, and identity,” he said. “Its restoration is not optional. Restoring it is restoring life.”
The programme also aligns with the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), linking environmental restoration to job creation, sustainable agriculture, and climate resilience. PS Kimtai noted that the initiative will integrate forestry, mining, and community livelihoods to create long-term, sustainable outcomes.
“As we saw in the Mau restoration efforts, collaboration delivers results. Conservation must work alongside livelihood improvement for it to be meaningful and lasting,” he said.
In her closing remarks, Dr. Barasa called upon Kenyans to take collective responsibility in safeguarding natural ecosystems.
“Protecting Mount Elgon is a national duty. Every citizen has a role to play. Together, we can restore this mountain and secure it for generations to come,” she stated.
The meeting paved the way for the national Mt. Elgon Day celebrations scheduled for next week, marking a renewed national commitment to rehabilitating Kenya’s water towers and preserving the country’s natural heritage.
