By Eddah Waithaka
A powerful new coalition is forming to boost Kenya’s reforestation efforts. The Kenya Forest Service (KFS) is finalizing a landmark partnership with agroforestry leader Tawi Research Limited, with strategic support from Truly Kenya Limited and Chainparency Inc. (United States).
The collaboration, set to be formalized by a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) within the next week, will focus on a critical challenge, planting trees in Kenya’s arid and degraded “ASAL areas.”
This initiative directly supports President William Ruto’s ambitious national campaign to grow 15 billion trees.“We see a clear path towards a partnership where TAWI and its consortium partners will add value to KFS and the Republic of Kenya,” said Fred Jura, founder and CEO of TAWI Research Ltd., during the meeting at KFS headquarters.
“Our discussions have been fruitful.”The partnership addresses a key bottleneck in the 15-billion-tree campaign. Dr. Clement Ng’oriareng’, the Principal Deputy to the Chief Conservator of Forests, confirmed that more than half of the national target relies on rehabilitating these degraded drylands.
“We may not be able to deliver on it alone as a service. We need partners. We require many hands,” stated Dr. Ng’oriareng’. “We are grateful for this partnership.”
A Multi-Faceted Approach to Reforestation
The new coalition brings a comprehensive toolkit to the table, directly tackling the challenge of reforestation in dry regions.
TAWI Research will lead this effort by developing large-scale agribusiness and irrigated forestry projects specifically designed to thrive in arid conditions.
Complementing this on-the-ground work, consortium partner Chainparency will deploy cutting-edge software and real-time data tools to meticulously measure tree growth and verify all conservation activities.
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This multi-pronged initiative will first establish pilot schemes in specific dry areas to identify and cultivate the most suitable tree species.
Furthermore, the project actively drives a “green agenda” by creating significant employment opportunities for youth and women, simultaneously building climate resilience and fostering community benefits.
“This possible collaboration will move Kenya towards that 15 billion tree goal,” said Alex Chesosi, Chairman of Truly Kenya Ltd., a consortium partner. “Besides that, we will create many jobs.”
Building on Current Progress
KFS officials reported the country is already making progress, having grown over 1.25 billion trees to date. However, they cited challenges like climate change, unpredictable weather patterns, and limited resources.
Titus Korir, Chairman of the KFS Board of Directors, emphasized the value of the new alliance. “With TAWI Ltd. coming in, it’s going to be another added benefit, particularly in our drier areas where we need to enhance the forest cover,” Korir said.
He confirmed that only minor legal amendments remain before the MOU is signed, with implementation expected to begin immediately afterward.
The finalized agreement will see the partners collaborate on forest restoration, climate change mitigation, capacity building, and resource mobilization, marking a significant step forward in Kenya’s journey toward a climate-resilient future.
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