Nairobi, Kenya – Principal Secretary for Environment and Climate Change, Dr. Eng. Festus K. Ng’eno, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to safeguarding the Mau Forest Complex through a landmark initiative, the Mau Forest Complex Integrated Conservation and Livelihood Improvement Programme (MFC ICLIP).
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Speaking during a high-level roundtable with key stakeholders, Dr. Ng’eno underscored the ecological and economic significance of the Mau Forest, describing it as Kenya’s largest water tower and one of East Africa’s most vital ecosystems.
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“The Mau is not just a forest; it is the lifeline of households, agriculture, energy, and tourism across Kenya and the wider region. Protecting it is both an environmental duty and an economic necessity,” he said.
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The Mau supplies water to millions of Kenyans for domestic use, farming, and livestock. Nationally, it underpins food security, hydropower generation, and tourism, sustaining iconic destinations such as Lake Nakuru and the Maasai Mara. Regionally, it anchors the Lake Victoria Basin, feeding the Nile River and supporting shared resources across Uganda, South Sudan, Sudan, and Egypt. Globally, it serves as a major carbon sink, safeguards World Heritage sites, and supports wildlife migrations.
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Dr. Ng’eno raised concern over increasing threats, including illegal logging, land encroachment, unsustainable farming practices, and climate change. Having grown up in the Mau region, he revealed that his passion for restoration long predates his appointment as Principal Secretary.
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In response to a presidential directive, the Ministry has rolled out MFC ICLIP, a 10-year programme with the rallying call “Linda Mau, Boresha Maisha” (Protect Mau, Improve Livelihoods). The initiative aims to restore the forest while creating green jobs and improving community livelihoods.
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The programme aligns with the 15 Billion Tree Initiative, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the Paris Agreement. Its first phase, launching October 24, 2025, will target the restoration of 3,313 hectares of degraded forest through the planting of four million tree seedlings. Already, more than 150,000 seedlings have been planted in Eastern Mau in the past month through a weekly tree-planting drive.
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MFC ICLIP adopts a “whole of government and whole of society” model, uniting state institutions, private sector players, civil society, local communities, and the media.
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Notable figures at the roundtable included PS for Wildlife Silvia Museiya, NEMA Director General Mamo B. Mamo, and Njoro MP Hon. Charity Kathambi. The private sector was represented by Safaricom PLC and the KEPSA Foundation, underscoring the multi-stakeholder responsibility to conserve the Mau.
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Dr. Ng’eno emphasized the role of collaboration in ensuring the programme’s success. He called on financial institutions, development organizations, and the media to co-create innovative solutions.
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“The media, in particular, is vital in inspiring action and mobilizing national and global support for Mau restoration,” he said, expressing gratitude to government agencies, civil society, and development partners already backing the initiative.
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With momentum gathering ahead of its official launch, the MFC ICLIP is poised to transform the Mau Forest into a climate-resilient ecosystem that supports both people and biodiversity.
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“United action is the only way we can secure the Mau Forest Complex for future generations,” Dr. Ng’eno affirmed.
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