Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife and Centum Foundation Sign Strategic Partnership to Mobilise US$1 Million for the Friends of Mount Kenya Initiative

Today marks a historic milestone in Kenya’s tourism and conservation agenda as the Cabinet Secretary for Tourism and Wildlife, Hon. Rebecca Miano, EGH, and the Centum Foundation formalised a strategic partnership to advance the Friends of Mount Kenya Initiative, in collaboration with the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and the Kenya Tourism Board (KTB).

The partnership follows a series of engagements with the Magical Kenya rebranding taskforce, led by MaryAnn Musangi, which explored opportunities to strengthen Kenya’s international tourism positioning and unlock the potential of Mount Kenya as a leading global adventure tourism destination.

The Friends of Mount Kenya Initiative is a five-year programme hosted by the Centum Foundation, with an ambition to mobilise US$1 million in investment towards upgrading Mount Kenya’s tourism infrastructure, strengthening mountain safety and rescue capabilities, improving visitor facilities, supporting conservation and expanding economic opportunities for surrounding communities.

Under the partnership, the Centum Foundation, working alongside corporate organisations, development partners, conservation institutions and local communities, will lead resource mobilisation, programme coordination, governance and impact reporting. The Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife will provide strategic policy leadership, while KWS will support the identification and implementation of priority interventions within its conservation and park management mandate. KTB, through Magical Kenya, will support destination positioning and international tourism promotion.

As Africa’s second-highest mountain and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Mount Kenya is a strategic national asset supporting tourism, water security, agriculture, energy generation and livelihoods. Its water catchment supports over seven million people, while its natural attractions provide significant opportunities for tourism growth and enterprise development.

The economic ambition is substantial. Illustrative economic scenarios developed for the initiative indicate that increasing annual visitation to 100,000 visitors could support KSh 4.4–6.6 billion in annual tourism expenditure, 5,300–7,800 direct and indirect jobs, KSh 660 million–1.05 billion in Government revenue and KSh 890 million–1.55 billion in SME revenues. These are potential long-term economic outcomes, subject to investment, market growth and further validation, rather than guaranteed results.

The initiative will initially prioritise practical interventions in mountain connectivity, trail marking, sanitation, emergency response, visitor information and guide and porter development, before progressing to larger infrastructure investments. An annual Friends of Mount Kenya Summit will serve as a flagship platform for mobilising investment, showcasing progress and strengthening Kenya’s positioning in the growing global adventure tourism market.

The initiative will also leverage the planned 2027 Mount Everest expedition by Kenyan mountaineer Martin Mumo, who serves as the Programme Ambassador for the Friends of Mount Kenya Initiative, as an international platform to showcase Kenya’s mountaineering potential, raise global awareness of Mount Kenya and mobilise strategic partnerships and investment. The expedition follows Mumo’s successful summit of Ama Dablam in Nepal in November 2025, one of the world’s most technically demanding high-altitude peaks, and forms part of his broader ambition to climb all 14 of the world’s 8,000-metre peaks.

The Centum Foundation delegation supporting the partnership includes Mr. Fred Murimi, Managing Partner at Centum Capital Partners and Trustee of the Centum Foundation; Martin Mumo, Programme Ambassador of the Friends of Mount Kenya Initiative and Head of Tax at Centum Investment Company Plc; Martin Gitonga, Head of Risk, Compliance and ESG at Centum Investment Company Plc; and Mary Mwangi, Brand and Communications, Centum Investment Company Plc.

Through this collaboration, the Ministry and its partners aim to establish a sustainable platform for transforming Mount Kenya into a globally competitive mountain tourism destination, while delivering measurable benefits through job creation, increased tourism receipts, stronger local enterprises, enhanced conservation and greater economic participation by surrounding communities.

ENDS