NAIROBI, Kenya, June 4 – Keiyo professionals under the banner “Kokwo”, a term loosely translated as neighbourhood, have reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the Kaptagat Integrated Conservation Programme (KICP) as the initiative marks a decade of ecosystem restoration and community transformation.
The professionals converged in Nairobi for a stakeholder engagement meeting aimed at strengthening collaboration ahead of the 10th Edition of the Kaptagat Integrated Conservation Programme scheduled for July 11, 2026.
The meeting brought together stakeholders, experts and partners drawn from the Kaptagat ecosystem to align priorities and deepen support for the programme’s next phase under the theme “10 to 20: Restore. Sustain. Transform.”
Programme patron and National Treasury Principal Secretary Dr. Chris Kiptoo, who led the discussions, emphasized the importance of collective action in advancing environmental restoration and sustainable development.
He said the success of KICP over the past nine years demonstrates the power of community-driven conservation, noting that the programme has evolved beyond tree planting into a broader economic and livelihoods transformation initiative.
Dr. Kiptoo highlighted that the programme, which began in 2017 with the restoration of just 50 hectares of degraded forest land, has grown into a major regional intervention restoring thousands of hectares of the Kaptagat ecosystem.
“We are not just restoring forests; we are transforming lives. This programme is about people, livelihoods and long-term sustainability,” he noted.
He further reiterated that the initiative is anchored on creating alternative income streams for communities living around the forest, including the promotion of high-value crops such as tea, coffee and avocado, as well as investments in beekeeping, dairy farming and water infrastructure.
According to programme leaders, KICP is also targeting the creation of at least 2,000 green jobs through conservation-related activities, ecosystem restoration and climate-smart agriculture.
The Kaptagat ecosystem, which spans parts of Elgeyo Marakwet and Uasin Gishu counties, remains a critical water tower supporting biodiversity and feeding rivers such as Ndoroti and Sosiani, which eventually drain into Lake Victoria. It also provides a significant share of water consumed in Eldoret City.
Over the years, the programme has expanded its impact across forest blocks including Pombo, Sabor, Benson, Kipkabus and Kessup, while also supporting community development projects such as dam construction, borehole drilling, education infrastructure and agricultural value chains.
Last year alone, the programme recorded major achievements, including the restoration of 988 hectares and the distribution of hundreds of thousands of tree seedlings alongside livestock and agricultural support initiatives.
The 2026 edition is expected to build on these gains while marking a symbolic 10-year milestone of sustained environmental action.
Keiyo professionals said their participation reflects a shared responsibility to support conservation efforts and strengthen community cohesion around environmental protection and economic empowerment.
Stakeholders noted that the vision of the Kaptagat Integrated Conservation Programme is closely aligned with Kenya’s national goal of growing and restoring 15 billion trees by 2032, positioning the initiative as a key contributor to the country’s climate action and landscape restoration agenda.
As preparations continue, partners say the upcoming event will not only celebrate a decade of progress but also set the stage for scaling the Kaptagat model to other parts of the country, showcasing it as a blueprint for integrated conservation, community empowerment and sustainable development.
