How Kaptagat's green model has revived forests, boosted incomes

Fifteen years ago, a group of environmental enthusiasts, alarmed by the rampant degradation of Kaptagat Forest, formed the Bombo-Sabor (Kaptagat) Forest Users Conservation Group, to restore the dwindling tree cover that had led to the drying up of rivers originating from the water tower.

Under the banner ‘Save the Kaptagat Forest and Save Ourselves’ the group partnered with the local Kenya Forest Service (KFS) to plant indigenous trees along bare riparian areas in an effort to rehabilitate the catchment areas.

However, their efforts were largely unsuccessful, as the young trees were grazed on and trampled by hundreds of unrestrained livestock.

In 2010, the group, together with the local community and the KFS, renewed their efforts rehabilitating the  remaining pockets of indigenous trees. They planted more than 150,000 indigenous trees, established a tree nursery, and through local youth forest patrols, nearly eliminated charcoal burning.

To protect the newly planted trees, they erected 6 to 10 kilometers of fencing around the restored areas to block access by charcoal burners, illegal firewood gatherers and livestock. While this helped curb charcoal burning, livestock owners continued grazing their animals in the newly planted zones.

National Treasury Principal Secretary Chris Kiptoo, who, at the time, was the Trademark East Africa Country Director and a founding member of Bombo-Sabor, said the group’s main goal was to promote sustainable forest use.

“Given the poverty levels among communities around the forest and the huge water needs of residents for domestic, agricultural and other uses, it was imperative to adopt and implement a comprehensive strategy to conserve and rehabilitate the Kaptagat ecosystem,” recalled Dr Kiptoo.

He noted that after five years of false starts, there was a need to mobilise funds to support a comprehensive model for sustainable forest management and rehabilitation while catalyzing community-driven economic development.

“That is how we came up with Kaptagat Integrated Conservation Programme under my patronage to fast-track the rehabilitation of the ecosystem and in 2017, we had the first edition of the sustainable marshal plan at Bombo,” noted the PS.

Economic empowerment

He said they discovered that when communities living around the forest benefit directly and economically, conservation efforts are more likely to succeed. The model they have implemented over the past nine years combines clear strategies aimed at promoting both environmental protection and economic empowerment of local residents.

“The programme aligns with the presidential call to combat the effects of climate change by growing 15 billion trees on 11 million hectares across Kenya, with the goal of achieving 30 per cent tree cover by 2032,” Kiptoo told The Standard.

He added that the programme is anchored on a five-year plan (2024–2029) designed to improve community livelihoods and secure the Kaptagat ecosystem, while enhancing community user rights through a range of interventions, including livestock upgrading, improved water access, cultivation of high-value crops and the adoption of green energy solutions.

“When we made our first steps in 2017, we were just planting trees and dreaming big. I never imagined we’d be talking about biogas, solar milk cooling systems, cow hotels… or even the idea of Kaptagat hosting a world-class marathon. But here we are. What started as a conservation effort has sparked a quiet revolution in livelihoods,” recollects Dr Kiptoo with a tinge of accomplishment.

Kiptoo is among individuals proposed to be honoured as Environmental Conservation Heroes for his role in Kaptagat forest rehabilitation and local community empowerment initiatives.

The programme aims at spurring local economies as well as improving livelihoods in 28,000 households living in different ecological zones in Elgeyo Marakwet and Uasin Gishu counties, who have been dependent on the forest for their livelihoods.

Since its inception, the programme has restored over 2,765 hectares, (2 million tree seedlings planted) distributed over 300,000 fruit trees, supported livestock development, brought clean water and clean energy closer to households and given families new hope and livelihoods.

“We’ve introduced various interventions to mitigate climate change effects such as high-value fruit tree growing, clean energy solutions, improved dairy breeds and rehabilitation of water sources that are changing lives. Among the dams rehabilitated under the programme include Etio, Yokot, Tirwane, Chepkosom among others,” he stated.

The PS said communities have embraced tree growing as a catalyst for wealth creation. For instance, the Kelu Chego (Let’s Drink Milk) Women’s Group,  once dependent on illicit alcohol brewing, has transformed into a successful enterprise, earning millions from the sale of tree seedlings. He added that the introduction of fruit farming and cash crops has brought transformative change, with hundreds of farmers embracing the venture.

“In Tembelio Location, farmers sold 60 tons of avocados in 2025, injecting Sh4.8 million into household incomes. One acre of avocado trees can yield up to Sh1.6 million annually at peak production. The upscaling of coffee growing in Tambach, Emsoo, Soy South and Soy North has seen the cultivation of 1.2 million seedlings, with a target of 12 million for planting,” he said.

The Ministry of Agriculture’s 2025 post-forecast on avocado production shows Uasin Gishu has expanded its area under the fruit from 834 hectares in 2021 to 1,400 hectares. Elgeyo Marakwet County has also made huge progress in embracing the crop.

“In partnership with the Kerio Valley Development Authority (KVDA), the programme is supporting value chains in pawpaw, mangoes and pixies in the Kerio Valley, while also expanding water harvesting facilities. KVDA has already rehabilitated 12 water reservoirs in the valley and is producing one million assorted fruit tree seedlings at affordable prices,” said Kiptoo. The programme also includes dairy improvement initiatives aimed at transforming traditional animal husbandry practices, reducing overgrazing and promoting clean energy solutions through biogas production under the ‘One Acre – One Cow’ model.

Dairy enterprise

“So far, 65 high-quality heifers have been distributed, with some already calving. Top performers are producing up to 22 litres of milk per day, translating to about Sh135,000 per cow per lactation cycle. Looking ahead, we are developing the first ‘Cow Hotel’, Sergon, a pioneering zero-grazing dairy enterprise,” he explained.

Sports and culture are also integral to the programme, given the region’s reputation as a favourite training ground for athletes due to its high altitude. Each edition features athletics and biking events within the forest, with winners receiving prizes.

Locals have expressed optimism about the programme, describing it as a sure way to restore the degraded forest while improving livelihoods through the introduction of avocado farming, moving away from the region’s traditional reliance on cereal crops.

According to Community Forest Association (CFA) chairman Vincent Chelimo, the restoration has been achieved through a well-structured forest management plan that unites state and private sector players.

“The community has been mobilised to join CFAs to enjoy user rights, including tilling forest land while nurturing tree seedlings, distributing avocado seedlings and installing biogas systems. It is worth noting that in less than a decade, the forest, once a shadow of its former self, has been restored,” he said.

He said that through the Plantation Establishment Livelihood Investment Scheme where locals plant food crops on the selected areas in the forests, there has been rapid growth of trees when compared to uncultivated areas.

Salina Cheruto, a resident of Kabukto village, Uasin Gishu County who was relying on the forest for livelihood but embraced avocado farming is now reaping the benefits from the sale of the fruits.

“I embraced avocado farming in 2019, and I’m excited that I now earn over Sh20,000 every month. The previous livelihood options were unsustainable and harmful to the environment. We applaud the programme because we have seen the forest restored and our livelihoods improved,” she said.

Another local resident, Truphena Chepseba, who had a biogas system installed in 2022, said she has not set foot in the forest to collect firewood since then.

Forestry Secretary George Tarus hailed the conservation and livelihood programme as a  sustainable way of improving the forest cover and opening new income streams to the local community.

“We have enhanced the livelihoods improvement programme through distribution of seedlings as well as dairy cattle. This will in turn ease pressure exerted on the forest for livelihood sustenance,” Tarus said.