Kenya: The CS Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry Soipan Tuya have presided over the launch of the Kakamega Forest Fence Project. The forest’s 117km perimeter that traverses both Kakamega and Vihiga Counties will be installed with an electric fence.
Speaking during the ceremony to launch the first phase of the project, which will see the construction of the 15km with support from the Government of Japan, the CS said that the fence will help protect the critical ecosystem from illegal activities while guaranteeing a sustainable source of livelihood for the neighbouring communities.
Minister Soipan informed the gathering that the rehabilitation of degraded forest areas within the forest will be done with the help of the community’s youth and women who will be part of the Green Army that will implement the campaign to plant 15 billion trees by 2032.
She thanked the County Governments of Kakamega and Vihiga for committing to partner with KFS in conserving the forest through the allocation of resources for the fence.
Speaking at the same event, the Japanese Ambassador to Kenya, Ken Okaniwa, said that his country was glad to partner with Kenya in forest conservation and especially the protection of Kakamega Forest, which is a biodiversity hotspot.
The Governor of Vihiga county H.E. Wilber Ottichilo assured the adjacent forest community that their rights as users of the forest had been guaranteed in the partnership agreement that was signed during the event.
On his part, the Governor of Kakamega, Fernandes Barasa, urged the community to continue conserving the forest even as he called on more partners to come on board and ensure the successful completion of the fence project.
The UNDP Country Representative Anthony Ngororano said that climate change was the biggest threat facing the world at the moment and urged everyone to work in collaboration to reduce it’s negative effects on people.
Accompanying the CS was the Ag. Chief Conservator of Forests, Mr Alex Lemarkoko, the Senator of Kakamega county Dr Bonny Khalwale, and the Regional Commissioner Western, Mr Macharia Irungu, among other leaders.