President William Ruto has unveiled an ambitious programme to restore the Mau Forest Complex as part of the government’s wider plan to plant 15 billion trees across the country within the next decade.
Speaking in Nakuru County during the launch of the Mau Forest Complex Integrated Conservation and Livelihood Improvement Programme, President Ruto said the initiative will adopt a whole-of-society approach that brings together government agencies, the private sector, and local communities to plant and nurture trees.
“We have started the journey to restore the Mau Forest Complex as part of our plan to plant 15 billion trees in the country within the next 10 years,” the President said. “To ensure this initiative is successful, we are involving every sector — from national and county governments to community groups and businesses.”
The President emphasized that once restored, the more than 33,000-hectare Mau Forest Complex will play a critical role in boosting water levels in major rivers, enhancing food production, and supporting over five million livelihoods in Nakuru County and other regions that depend on the ecosystem.
He noted that the government’s reforestation plan not only aims to combat climate change but also to promote sustainable livelihoods through community-based forest management, eco-tourism, and environmental education.
