Kaptagat Forest restoration complete as PS Chris Kiptoo unveils next conservation phase

National Treasury Principal Secretary and Patron of the Kaptagat Integrated Conservation Programme (KICP), Dr Chris Kiptoo, announced that the final 22-hectare grassland at Chebior in Sabor Forest Station had been planted, marking the full restoration of the Kaptagat ecosystem.

The ecosystem comprises the Kipkabus, Penon, Kaptagat, Sabor, Kessup and Elgeyo forest stations, which together form one of Kenya's critical water towers supporting thousands of livelihoods in the North Rift region.

Speaking during a Corporate Tree Growing Exercise led by Head of Public Service Felix Koskei at Chebior, Dr Kiptoo said the programme would now move into a new phase focused on rehabilitating the Keiyo Escarpment and hanging valleys while promoting tree growing on community and private farms.

"As we mark this milestone, the next phase of KICP will shift from forest restoration to the rehabilitation of the Keiyo Escarpment and hanging valleys, as well as the promotion of tree growing on community and private farms," said Dr Kiptoo.

He said the initiative would be complemented by the distribution of high-value cash crop seedlings, including avocado, coffee and cocoa, aimed at improving household incomes while increasing tree cover in support of the Government's target of growing 15 billion trees by 2032.

The latest tree-growing exercise is among the flagship activities of the 10th Edition of KICP, which is targeting the planting of more than 800,000 tree seedlings across the Sabor and Penon forest blocks between July 4 and 11. 

The programme combines forest restoration with water catchment protection, climate action and sustainable livelihoods, with officials describing it as one of Kenya's leading examples of community-led conservation.

This year's celebrations have also incorporated sports tourism as a tool for conservation awareness through the third edition of the Kaptagat Forest Marathon.

The event has grown steadily from the Kaptagat Forest Run in 2024 and the Kaptagat Forest Half Marathon in 2025 into a full marathon expected to attract elite and recreational athletes from across the country.

The 42-kilometre race will start at Chemarkach, while the 21-kilometre, 10-kilometre and 5-kilometre races will begin at Brooklyn, Kaptagat Forest and Mokwo Junction respectively before converging at Kaptarkok Primary School for the finish.

Organisers have set aside KSh7.37 million in prize money across the four race categories.

President William Ruto is expected to preside over the 10th edition of the Kaptagat Integrated Conservation Programme on Saturday, culminating a week-long environmental and sports initiative aimed at accelerating Kenya's 15 billion trees agenda while strengthening climate resilience through community conservation and sports tourism.