Tebe: The government has reaffirmed its commitment to environmental conservation and ecosystem restoration as part of efforts to enhance food security, protect biodiversity, and secure livelihoods for future generations. Speaking during the official launch of the Cherangany Hills Ecosystem Restoration for Livelihood Improvement, Sustainability, and Harmony (CHERISH) programme in Tebe, Kapyego, during the commemoration of the 2026 International Day for Biodiversity, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki stated that Kenya has a national duty to protect and conserve its natural resources.
According to Kenya News Agency, Prof. Kindiki emphasized that environmental protection is directly linked to human survival, asserting that conservation efforts would boost agricultural productivity and strengthen food security across the country. He highlighted the importance of maintaining the natural environmental quantities of the world’s species of flora and fauna, which are intricately linked to climate, agriculture, food security, and public health.
The Deputy President underscored the significance of the International Day for Biodiversity as an opportunity for Kenyans to reflect on their responsibility towards safeguarding the environment. Prof. Kindiki reaffirmed the government’s commitment to promoting the constitutional right to a clean and healthy environment for all Kenyans, as promised in the Constitution of Kenya.
The CHERISH program aims to restore the degraded Cherangany Hills ecosystem, supporting conservation activities, improving water catchment areas, and enhancing livelihoods for communities living around the vital water tower. Prof. Kindiki also highlighted progress made under the national tree-growing initiative launched in 2022, which targets planting and growing 15 billion trees by 2032. So far, 1.7 billion trees have been planted under the initiative.
Addressing structural challenges that had previously slowed the programme, Prof. Kindiki noted that these issues have now been resolved, paving the way for accelerated tree planting and maintenance efforts nationwide. He further reported that the restoration of the country’s five major water towers, including Mt Kenya, the Aberdare Ranges, the Mau Complex, Cherangany, and Mt Elgon ecosystems, had gained momentum.
Environmental stakeholders and local leaders attending the event welcomed the CHERISH initiative, acknowledging its potential to reverse environmental degradation in the Cherangany Hills while promoting sustainable livelihoods among surrounding communities. The Cherangany Hills are recognized as one of Kenya’s critical water towers and biodiversity hotspots, supporting rivers that serve millions of people in the Rift Valley and western Kenya regions.
