Oloolua revival starts with run, tree-planting push

Thousands of Kenyans on Saturday joined a conservation run at Oloolua Forest as a new restoration and community livelihoods programme was launched to protect the ecosystem from encroachment and degradation.

Principal Secretary for the National Treasury Chris Kiptoo flagged off the event, which also saw the launch of a tree-planting exercise involving 10,000 seedlings to restore degraded sections of the forest.

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The “Run for Oloolua Forest” initiative, led by Principal Secretary Ephantus Kimotho, is part of a broader conservation drive combining environmental protection with community-based development.

PS Kimotho said the programme is designed to protect one of the region’s key ecological and eco-tourism assets while addressing increasing pressure from human activity and urban expansion.

“Together, we run not just for today — but for the future of our forests,” Kimotho said during the event.

The exercise brought together senior government officials, including Festus K. Ng’eno, Korir Sing’oei and Patrick Mariru, alongside members of the public and environmental stakeholders who participated in the run.

The programme also introduces sustainability interventions anchored on circular economy principles, including waste segregation systems within the forest, promotion of reusable materials, and partnerships aimed at recycling plastic waste to reduce pollution.

Beyond conservation, the initiative incorporates livelihood-focused interventions targeting communities living around the forest. These include access to clean energy technologies such as solar lighting and energy-efficient cookstoves to reduce reliance on firewood.

Farmers in the surrounding Ngong area are also expected to benefit from climate-smart agriculture support, including drip irrigation, agroforestry and improved soil management practices aimed at boosting productivity while protecting the environment.

Officials said the programme is projected to benefit about 1.5 million people, including roughly 300,000 households, through improved water access, better air quality, expanded eco-tourism opportunities and strengthened livelihoods.

The initiative aligns with the government’s national climate agenda spearheaded by President William Ruto, which targets the planting of 15 billion trees as part of Kenya’s environmental restoration strategy.

Authorities said sustained funding, strong partnerships and community participation will be key to the success of the programme, which is expected to serve as a model for urban forest conservation in Kenya.