By CHURCHILL SIMIYU, Reporter ,Nairobi, Kenya.
November 4, 2025.

Kenya has declared November 7 as Mt. Elgon Day, marking the launch of a national effort to restore and protect one of the country’s most vital water towers.

The announcement was made by Environment, Climate Change and Forestry Cabinet Secretary Dr. Deborah M. Barasa during a media breakfast in Nairobi, where she unveiled a 10-year restoration plan targeting 103,000 hectares of degraded land in the Mt. Elgon ecosystem.

Dr. Barasa said the initiative is part of the government’s broader strategy to combat deforestation, strengthen climate resilience, and promote sustainable livelihoods.

«“Mount Elgon has suffered the effects of deforestation and unsustainable land use practices, leading to declining water levels and reduced ecosystem services — reminding us that the cost of environmental destruction is too high to bear,” she said.»

To steer the initiative, Principal Secretary for Mining Harry Kimtai has been appointed as Patron and Champion of the Mt. Elgon Restoration Programme. The project aligns with the Presidential Directive to grow 15 billion trees by 2032, the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), and the National Climate Change Action Plan (NCCAP).
Dr. Barasa noted that in 2023, UNESCO designated the Mt. Elgon ecosystem as a Transboundary Biosphere Reserve (TBR) — only the second of its kind in Africa — shared between Kenya and Uganda. She warned that continued degradation could threaten this recognition, which offers global opportunities for conservation, research, and funding.

«“This remarkable achievement opens numerous opportunities in funding, conservation projects, sustainable livelihoods, research, and scholarship. But it is not permanent — we must act to safeguard it,” she emphasized.»
Beyond environmental restoration, the programme aims to create green jobs, expand clean energy access, strengthen agricultural value chains, and promote environmental education in schools and universities. It will also foster youth empowerment, sports development, and cultural preservation within local communities.
Dr. Barasa urged all stakeholders — including county governments, the private sector, conservation groups, and development partners — to unite behind the restoration cause.

«“Let Mount Elgon rise again — green, vibrant, and full of life,” she concluded.»

The Ministry affirmed that the Mt. Elgon Restoration Programme will serve as a model for sustainable landscape management and help Kenya advance its national and global climate commitments.