Kirinyaga: Kirinyaga County Forest Conservator, Ms. Caroline Njeru, has underscored the urgent need for stronger collaboration between the National and Kirinyaga County Government in conserving forests, protecting endangered species, and addressing emerging environmental threats in the region. Speaking during a field excursion with the members of the Kirinyaga County Assembly’s Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, Ms. Njeru said forests remain the backbone of the ecosystem and directly influence water security, food production, and climate stability. She warned that unless urgent interventions are implemented, the county risks losing critical biodiversity and undermining its agricultural potential.
According to Kenya News Agency, the tour, which was led by Njukiini Ward MCA Timothy Njeru, took the committee to Kamuruana Forest in Inoi Ward, a 28.67-hectare natural reserve located near Kangaita Tea Factory. The forest is home to rare indigenous tree species including Croton Megalocarpus, Macaranga, Syzygium, and Macrocarpus. However, the forest has come under growing pressure from illegal logging, charcoal burning, and encroachment, activities that continue to threaten its survival.
Ms. Njeru proposed the immediate fencing of Kamuruana Forest to curb illegal activities and secure the endangered species. The project, estimated to cost about Sh12 million, will be undertaken jointly by the National Government through the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) and the Kirinyaga County Government. She observed that a well-secured forest would not only protect biodiversity but also open up new opportunities in eco-tourism, learning, and research.
Beyond fencing, Ms. Njeru called for communities to be placed at the center of conservation efforts. She explained that residents living around forests must be involved through environmental education, afforestation programs, and sustainable income-generating activities such as agroforestry. Already, her office has lined up the distribution of 50,000 tree seedlings to schools, churches, and farmer groups within the county this year as part of efforts to restore degraded areas and instill a culture of tree planting among the youth.
She further noted that farmers who adopt tree planting alongside their crops stand to benefit through improved soil fertility and additional income from fruit and timber products. The delegation later visited the Kerugoya Urban Forest, which is managed by the County Government, where they encountered a worrying environmental hazard.
An uncommissioned dumpsite located dangerously close to Rutui River has become an eyesore and a threat to residents who rely on the water source for domestic and agricultural use. The site, which has been expanding without proper management systems, has raised concerns over public health and pollution of the river ecosystem. George Kariuki, Chairperson of the committee expressed alarm at the situation and confirmed that the Assembly will summon the relevant County Executive Committee Member (CEC) to provide a comprehensive plan on waste management.
He warned that failure to address the dumpsite crisis would erode gains made in environmental conservation and expose thousands of residents to serious health risks. ‘Our rivers are lifelines for households and agriculture. Allowing them to be polluted is equivalent to sabotaging our own economy. We want to see a clear roadmap on the relocation of the dumpsite and the establishment of sustainable recycling systems for waste,’ Kariuki remarked.
Following the visits, the Committee resolved to push for the mainstreaming of forest conservation and environmental protection into the county’s long-term development agenda. This will include enhanced budgetary allocations for afforestation, forest rehabilitation, and waste management. At the same time, both the National and Kirinyaga County Governments are expected to work closely with development partners and community-based organizations to expand conservation projects across the county.
The Conservator further emphasized that conservation should be treated as a development issue rather than an afterthought. She noted that deforestation and environmental degradation directly undermine agriculture, which is the county’s economic backbone, while highlighting that forest loss contributes to climate change, unpredictable rainfall patterns, and food insecurity, all of which affect households at the grassroots. ‘If we lose our forests today, we compromise water sources, expose our farms to droughts, and put the future of our children at risk. Conservation is development, and development cannot be achieved without conservation,’ she said.
The Committee pledged to follow up on the resolutions made during the field excursion, noting that protecting Kamuruana and Kerugoya forests would not only preserve natural heritage but also strengthen the county’s resilience against climate change while securing livelihoods for generations to come.