Fencing of South West Mau Forest kicks off

A fencing project aimed at securing the country’s largest water tower has commenced in part of the Mau Forest complex.

The first phase of the project will cost Sh50 million and involves constructing a fence that will stretch for 30 kilometres, effectively separating settlements from the forests within Ndoinet Forest in South West Mau.

Christian Lambrechts, the director of Rhino Ark, stated that the overall project is scheduled to cover more than 400 kilometres in total.

This will encompass the southern part of Mau, which includes Trans Mara, Maasai Mau, South West Mau, and Olposimoru.

“The project has been in the planning stages for the last eight years. The initial phase will focus on 30 kilometres along the north-eastern cutline of South West Mau,” Lambrechts explained.

The South Western Mau Forest is the largest of the 22 blocks within the Mau Forest Complex, covering 60,000 hectares of indigenous montane forest.

It serves as a source for numerous rivers, including the Sondu Miriu River, which flows into Lake Victoria and subsequently through the Nile River to the Mediterranean Sea.

As a gazetted reserve, it spans portions of Nakuru, Bomet, and Kericho counties.

“Mau is a critical water tower, not just nationally but regionally. It supports transboundary lakes and rivers that many communities depend on,” Lambrechts emphasised.

Despite its crucial significance, the Mau Forest Complex has encountered numerous challenges over the years, including encroachment, deforestation, overgrazing by livestock, logging, and charcoal burning.

Deborah Barasa, the Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate, and Forestry, noted that in addition to preventing further destruction of the forest, the fence will play a vital role in reducing human-wildlife conflicts.

“The Mau Forest is a biodiversity hotspot that deserves protection at all costs. It holds deep cultural significance for local communities and is ecologically important to the region. The fence will help deter illegal activities,” Dr Barasa stated.

She also mentioned that the ongoing demarcation of boundaries in Eastern Mau aims to resolve the long-standing issues related to unclear boundaries within the water tower.

“With clearly defined boundaries, we can more effectively separate settlements from forests, facilitating easier conservation efforts,” she added.

Joseph Chepkwony, a resident, expressed that the fence will assist the community in protecting the forest, which has suffered from degradation.

“This forest is crucial for keeping our rivers flowing, yet we have witnessed significant destruction in the past,” he remarked.

To date, 1,500 hectares of previously encroached degraded forest land in South West Mau have been replanted.