Treasury PS Chris Kiptoo and his irrigation counterpart Ephantus Kimotho during the marathon event/Handout.
Oloolua Forest will be fenced within the next two months as part of renewed efforts to curb encroachment, pollution and degradation of the ecosystem.
The announcement was made on Saturday during the first edition of a fundraising and awareness run that attracted more than 1,500 nature lovers to the forest in Kajiado county.
The initiative, themed 'Run It, Fence It, Protect It', is being spearheaded by Irrigation PS Ephantus Kimotho.
Treasury PS Chris Kiptoo flagged off the event, which also supports the presidential directive to grow 15 billion trees, as Kenya intensifies its climate action and conservation agenda.
Kimotho said funds raised during the event and related engagements would go towards fencing the forest, with each kilometre of fencing estimated at about Sh2.5 million.
He said resources had already been raised for several kilometres through fundraising dinners and contributions from exhibitors.
Kimotho said fencing will begin after public participation processes are completed, with controlled entry points to ensure surrounding communities are not inconvenienced.
“We are not just fencing a forest; we are protecting a lifeline for biodiversity and livelihoods,” he said.
The PS also announced plans to establish a material recovery facility within the forest to support recycling and improve waste management, including providing waste pickers with more dignified livelihoods.
He urged communities living around the forest to avoid illegal dumping, warning that waste eventually finds its way into the ecosystem.
Kimotho said every participant in the run contributed symbolically to conservation efforts, noting the initiative was turning conservation ideas into action.
Environment PS Festus Ng’eno, Foreign Affairs PS Korir Sing’Oei and Defence PS Patrick Mariru also took part in the run.
The programme includes wider sustainability measures such as waste segregation, the promotion of reusable materials and recycling partnerships aimed at reducing plastic pollution.
It also incorporates community livelihood interventions, including access to solar lighting and energy-efficient cookstoves to reduce reliance on firewood.
Kiptoo said the fencing idea was first proposed during his tenure in the Environment docket and urged communities to support conservation efforts while embracing the sustainable use of the forest.
He said controlled access, including modest user fees, would help generate revenue for maintenance.
The PS also warned against land grabbing and urged residents to safeguard the forest, adding that conservation brings long-term economic benefits.
Similar conservation lessons were drawn from the Kaptagat Forest programme, where more than 2,500 hectares (6,177 acres) have been restored through tree planting and community-driven initiatives such as avocado farming and biogas adoption to reduce pressure on natural forests.
Other partners also pledged support, with Kerio Valley Development Authority donating 10,000 indigenous tree seedlings, WWF-Kenya providing 20 beehives for local conservation groups, and Kefri planning a seed collection centre.
Oloolua Forest, gazetted in 1932 and declared a central forest in 1964, forms part of the Ngong Hills ecosystem and remains a key green space for Nairobi’s growing population.
According to Friends of Oloolua Forest, the resource has 375 hectares (926 acres) of endemic forest, 109 hectares (269 acres) of degraded forest, and 156 hectares (385 acres) of eucalyptus plantations.
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