The I&M Foundation and the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) have entered into a partnership agreement to
restore the Ngong Road Forest. The signing ceremony was held at the KFS Headquarters on Kiambu
Road, on Thursday 4th April 2024. The I&M Foundation is going to invest KES 162 million, over a period
of 3 years to complete the project.
“The restoration of the Ngong Road Forest is of significant importance to us.We have so far invested
over Kes 60 million over the last three years towards Environmental conservation in Kenya.This project will
not only be a restoration of a major ecosystem but will also provide Nairobi residents with a safe space
for social and physical activities,” said Mr. Sarit Raja-Shah the Group Executive Director, I&M Group PLC and I&M Foundation Director.
The project will foresee the fencing of the sanctuary section of Ngong Road Forest, a 14 km stretch across the informal settlement of Kibera, and the Southern Bypass at Karen. The construction of a
modern ablution block , provision of a motorable internal security trail, growing of trees in the degraded
forest areas, scaling up the nursery for seedling production, construction of living quarters for rangers
and the restoration of event grounds.
At the same event, the KFS Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF) Alex Lemarkoko, applauded I&M
Foundations approach. He said the project will help rejuvenate Ngong forest to its former glory.
“Ngong Road Forest has the potential to become a formidable contemporary to Karura Forest.It has
served us well for decades but is beginning to suffer the consequences of our population burst.We have
found a partner whose values alighns with ours.We both aim to combat climate change, conserve the
ecosystem and provide relief to Karura forest from a social recreation perspective,” he said .
The partnership between the two aligns with the Government of Kenya’s mandate in enhancing the
development, conservation and management of the National Forest resources.
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