Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has announced a major restoration programme for the Cherangany Ecosystem, following the recurrent landslides in the region which have claimed many lives and destroyed livelihoods.
Speaking in Nairobi during a partners’ roundtable for the programme dubbed CHERISH (Cherangany Hills Ecosystem Restoration for Livelihood Improvement, Sustainability and Harmony), the CS said the initiative seeks to conserve the environment while providing sustainable livelihoods to the communities.
“The Chesongoch landslide disaster of the night of October 31st last year is still fresh in our minds. We lost lives, livelihoods, and critical infrastructure because the hill slopes—left bare and unstable due to human settlement—could no longer absorb the heavy downpour,” said the CS.
He noted that the degradation of the forest has exacerbated resource-based conflicts among local communities.
“When resources become scarce, when rivers dry up, when grazing land dwindles, when there is no water for livestock, desperation turns into conflict,” he said.
What is the size of Cherangany Forest?
Cherangany Forest spans 414,928 hectares across Elgeyo Marakwet, Uasin Gishu, Trans Nzoia and West Pokot counties.
“The programme, anchored on President Ruto’s 15-billion-tree agenda, aims to restore 62,038 hectares of highly degraded escarpments and riparian land, protect 20 springs and critical water towers, and support sustainable livelihoods for local communities,” said CS Murkomen, who is the CHERISH patron.
While thanking Environment, Climate Change and Forestry CS Deborah Mlongo Barasa for championing the ecosystem and livelihoods restoration approach, Murkomen noted that the 10-year initiative will adopt an all-of-government, all-of-society framework.
He called on the private sector, development partners and other stakeholders to support the programme.
“Please align your portfolios with CHERISH. We have a multi-stakeholder framework ready. Help us support the peace tournaments, help us train our youth on alternative livelihoods among other initiatives,” he urged.
In her remarks, Dr Barasa noted that the Ministry had adopted a champion-led approach to conservation, saying the greening agenda will be achieved ahead of time if more Kenyans take up the role in their home areas.
“I congratulate Hon. Murkomen on this initiative and call for more Kenyans to do the same. As a ministry, we will be part and parcel of this and other such initiatives because together we achieve more,” said Dr Barasa.
The CHERISH programme will officially be launched on May 22, 2026, in Elgeyo-Marakwet County, a day that coincides with the International Day of Biodiversity. The launch will be preceded by the inaugural Cherangany Conservation Run on May 21, 2026, in the same county.
