Kenya Forest Service

Read the latest issue of The Forester Magazine — Issue No. 38! Discover insightful stories and updates on forestry in Kenya, including strategies to combat forest fires, highlights from the Forest Status Report 2024, and much more. Access the full issue here: kenyaforestservice.org/wp-content/upl…

The Kenya Forest Service Board of Directors, the @CCF_Kenya, and the entire KFS fraternity wish our Muslim brothers and sisters a blessed Eid al-Fitr. May this season of faith and reflection bring peace, unity, and renewed stewardship of our environment. Eid Mubarak.

RT @MOWSI_KE: Principal Secretary for Irrigation, @EphantusKim, this evening hosted dignitaries at a resource mobilization dinner for the…

CCF Attends Fundraiser to Restore Ngong Forest. @CCF_Kenya Alex Lemarkoko joined stakeholders at a fundraising dinner convened by Irrigation PS @EphantusKim to mobilize support for the restoration of Ngong Forest. The initiative highlights a coordinated effort to address growing pressure from urban expansion, environmental degradation, and climate change, while reaffirming the forest’s importance for water security, livelihoods, and climate regulation. Stakeholders called for sustained partnerships and collective action, positioning Ngong Forest as a model for urban ecosystem restoration.

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Join the conversation on forests, environment, and flooding, focusing on resilient ecosystems and community-driven solutions. The Chief Conservator of Forests, Mr. Alex Lemarkoko, joins host Nimrod Taabu other panelists to share insights on sustainable forest management and climate action. 📍 Live on Sema na Citizen 🎙 Hosted on Maskani 🔹 X (Twitter): @KeForestService 🔹 Facebook: @KenyaForestService #TreesForBetterLives #JazaMiti

FoLEA Kicks Off Elite Paramilitary Training for County Enforcement Officers The Forestry Law Enforcement Academy (FoLEA) in Londiani today officially opened a specialized paramilitary training course for enforcement officers from Nyamira and Nyeri counties. The program marks a major step in strengthening county enforcement capacity and professional standards. Deputy Commandant Mr. Wilson Leboo emphasized the importance of discipline, leadership, and professionalism as core pillars for effective enforcement. Nyamira County officials, Dr. Mercy Moraa Motanya and Madam Shem Onchiri, joined KFS leaders to demonstrate strong county support for developing skilled and accountable officers. The training will equip officers with integrity, operational readiness, and leadership skills, enhancing compliance and governance at the county level. FoLEA Londiani continues to set the standard as a premier institution for paramilitary and enforcement training in Kenya.

The sustainable management of Karura Forest is a key priority of the State Department of Forestry, the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) and the Friends of Karura Community Forest Association (FKF-CFA) among other stakeholders including its daily visitors who have a big appreciation of the important role the forest plays in offering a place of relaxation within the Nairobi Metropolis. It is for this reason that the Forest Development Secretary Mr. George Tarus chaired a meeting that brought together officers from KFS and FKF CFA to discuss matters concerning the management of the vital forest. Mr. Tarus noted that both parties appreciated the importance of Karura Forest and had prioritized its proper management for the benefit of present and future generations. The DCCF in charge of Conservancy Coordination Mr. Francis Kariuki who was representing the Chief Conservator of Forests Mr. Alex Lemarkoko said that the Service was under pressure to produce adequate seedlings for the 15 billion tree growing campaign and had therefore earmarked all its nurseries for expansion in order to meet the seedling demand. On his part, Prof. Karanja Njoroge on behalf of FKF-CFA said that the association was willing to participate in the campaign by supplementing KFS efforts in seedling production. It was agreed that issues concerning the forest would be raised and addressed amicably going forward. Others present included the Ministry’s Principal State Counsel Fatma Ali, the Principal Corporate Communications Officer Mr. Charles Ngunjiri and the Manager in charge of Karura Forest Mr. Edward Munene among others.

#IDF2026 #TreesForBetterLives #JazaMiti

Kenya’s preparations for the upcoming International Day of Forests and the rollout of the long rains tree planting season took center stage today as the Head of Public Service, @koske_felix, paid a high-level visit to the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) headquarters in Nairobi. The engagement reviewed ongoing national forestry initiatives and assessed progress toward delivering the government’s ambitious target of 30 percent tree cover by 2032, a cornerstone of Kenya’s climate action and environmental restoration agenda. During the briefing, the Chief Conservator of Forests noted that this year’s International Day of Forests will be commemorated on 21 March at Maragoli Hills Forest Station in Vihiga County. The event will bring together government leaders, conservation partners, and local communities to rehabilitate the fragile ecosystem while raising awareness on the vital role forests play in environmental conservation, biodiversity protection, and climate resilience. The meeting also evaluated the Service’s readiness for the long rains tree planting season, an important window for accelerating Kenya’s national tree growing and forest restoration programme. The Service reaffirmed its commitment to mobilizing partners, institutions, and communities across the country to scale up tree growing efforts and strengthen forest protection. Koskei was accompanied by the Principal Secretary for the State Department for Forestry, @GMugambi_CBS, and was received at the KFS headquarters by the @CCF_Kenya, Alex Lemarkoko, alongside senior officers of the Service.

The Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service @koske_felix Mr.Felix Koskei, EGH, has today visited Kenya Forest Service headquarters , accompanied by the Principal Secretary for State department of Forestry, Mr Gitonga Mugambi, CBS. He was received by the Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF) Mr Alex Lemarkoko and other senior officers. The visit was an opportunity to review ongoing Forestry sector initiatives and forest conservation efforts towards the national goal of growing 15 billion trees for achievement of 30 percent tree cover by 2032. The Public Sector has been pivotal in supporting this project. During the visit, the CCF highlighted preparations for the upcoming International Day of Forests, which will be marked on 21st March 2026 in Maragoli Hills Forest, Vihiga County. The celebrations will bring together government leaders, stakeholders, and local communities to raise awareness about the critical role forests play in environmental conservation, biodiversity protection, and climate resilience. The discussions also focused on preparedness for the ongoing long rains tree planting season, which provides a crucial opportunity to accelerate Kenya’s national tree growing and forest restoration agenda. The Kenya Forest Service reaffirmed its commitment to mobilizing partners and communities across the country to enhance forest cover and contribute to sustainable environmental management

Today, I accompanied Cabinet Secretary Dr. @DeboraBarasa to the National Assembly of Kenya Departmental Committee on Environment, Forestry and Mining in Nairobi, chaired by Njoru MP Hon. Charity Kathambi Chepkwony. The CS presented the Forest Conservation and Management

The State Department for Forestry has proposed an increase in its recurrent budget for the 2025/26 financial year to address a shortfall in Personal Emoluments at the Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI) and to fully cover personnel costs for staff at the Kenya Forest Service (KFS). The Supplementary Estimates for the 2025/26 financial year were presented by Environment, Climate Change and Forestry Cabinet Secretary Dr. Deborah M. Barasa to the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Environment, Forestry and Mining, chaired by Mwala MP Hon. Eng. Vincent Musyoka, during a meeting held in Machakos. Accompanying the CS was Forestry Principal Secretary Mr. Gitonga Mugambi, who emphasized the importance of timely budgetary support to sustain operations within the forestry sector. He noted that adequate funding for personnel emoluments is critical to ensuring staff morale, institutional stability, and the effective delivery of forest conservation and restoration programmes across the country. The proposed additional funding will facilitate the settlement of contractual obligations relating to personnel emoluments and gratuity for staff within the Ministry and its agencies. The move is also expected to help address existing financial gaps that have affected the timely payment of staff-related obligations. Part of the funds will also support the implementation of the Government’s 15 Billion Tree Growing Programme, which seeks to restore degraded landscapes and increase national tree cover in line with Kenya’s climate change mitigation and adaptation commitments. Further, the supplementary allocation will enable the Ministry to settle outstanding obligations arising from court awards, which have placed additional financial pressure on the sector. “This additional allocation will support critical programmes including the implementation of the 15 Billion Tree Growing Programme, settlement of outstanding court awards, and strengthening of oversight, monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to ensure effective delivery of forestry projects,” Dr. Barasa said. The funding will also enhance oversight, monitoring and evaluation of the various forestry and environmental projects currently being implemented by the Ministry, ensuring that programmes achieve their intended outcomes while supporting sustainable forest management and ecosystem restoration efforts across the country. Also present during the session were senior Ministry officials led by Forest Development Secretary Mr. George Tarus, Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF) Mr. Alex Lemarkoko, Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI) CEO Dr. Jane Njuguna, and Secretary Administration Mr. Patrick Meso.

Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, Dr. Deborah M. Barasa, today appeared before the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Environment, Forestry and Mining, chaired by Vincent Musyoka, during a session held in Nairobi. The Cabinet Secretary presented the Ministry’s response on the Government’s renewed efforts to resolve longstanding land issues affecting several forest-adjacent communities through a proposal seeking parliamentary approval to vary the boundaries of selected public forests. Accompanied by Forestry Principal Secretary Gitonga Mugambi, the CS noted that the initiative aims to balance legitimate historical settlement concerns with the need to safeguard the country’s forest ecosystems. The PS emphasized that the process is anchored in law and guided by technical assessments to ensure conservation priorities remain protected. The proposal seeks to regularize settlements that have existed for decades while safeguarding the remaining forest ecosystems. The areas under consideration include sections of Mount Elgon Forest, Kakamega Forest, South Nandi Forest and Turbo Forest. The Cabinet Secretary informed the Committee that the Ministry had earlier submitted a petition to the National Assembly seeking determination of several longstanding public forest land claims. Following petitions from affected communities, a technical team was constituted to review the claims based on specific criteria, including previous Cabinet approvals for resettlement, absence of pending court cases and the extent of settlement in the affected areas. The recommendations were subsequently forwarded to the Kenya Forest Service Board for approval before being presented to Cabinet, which authorized the Ministry to initiate the formal petition process. Dr. Barasa further noted that Environmental Impact Assessments were conducted for the areas proposed for boundary variation in accordance with the Forest Conservation and Management Act. The process also included stakeholder consultations and public participation to ensure transparency and compliance with the law. Committee members were also briefed on the historical background of the affected areas, noting that some settlements date back several decades and already host established communities and public infrastructure. Resolving the status of these areas, the CS noted, will help curb degradation, illegal activities and land speculation while strengthening conservation of the remaining forest ecosystems. Also present at the session were senior Ministry officials led by Forest Development Secretary George Tarus, Chief Conservator of Forests Alex Lemarkoko and Secretary Administration Patrick Meso.

The Government remains committed to resolving long-standing land issues affecting communities living adjacent to forest areas while safeguarding the integrity of Kenya’s forest ecosystems. Addressing these matters through lawful and transparent processes is essential in promoting

KFS, JICA Discuss Progress of CORECC Project and Key Forestry Guidelines KFS and JICA have today reviewed progress of the SFS CORECC Project during a consultative meeting focused on advancing commercial forestry and ecosystem services management in Kenya’s drylands. Principal Deputy to the Chief Conservator of Forests Dr. Clement Ng’oriareng’, representing @CCF_Kenya Alex Lemarkoko, met with the @jica_direct_en project team led by Beatrice Atemo and Shinji Ogawa. The team highlighted progress and the development of two key outputs: Guidelines on Commercial Growing of Melia volkensii (Mukau) in Kenya’s Drylands and Standard Operating Procedures for Forest Ecosystem Services (FES) Assessment, expected ahead of the project’s conclusion in February 2027. Dr. Ng’oriareng’ noted that expanding Mukau cultivation could significantly boost commercial forestry in arid areas while contributing to Kenya’s 15 billion tree growing campaign. The team also agreed to plan the launch of the two documents before the end of March.

KFS Begins ISO 9001:2015 Certification Process The Kenya Forest Service has initiated the process of attaining ISO 9001:2015 certification, a globally recognized quality management standard designed to strengthen institutional efficiency, accountability, and service delivery. The certification process is important in helping public institutions standardize procedures, improve operational performance, and ensure that services provided to the public meet consistent quality benchmarks. To advance this objective, the Principal Deputy to the Chief Conservator of Forests, Dr. Clement Ng’oriareng’, today chaired a meeting bringing together members of the Senior Management Team, the ISO Steering Committee, and external auditors from @KEBS_ke for the Stage 1 audit of the certification process. The external auditors were led by Lead Auditor Elizabeth Kisilu, who briefed the team on the requirements for attaining the ISO 9001:2015 quality management certification. She noted that the standard will support the Service in strengthening its internal systems and enhancing the efficiency with which it delivers services to the public.

Long Rains Season Tree Planting Updates Tree growing activities continued across multiple conservancies as part of Kenya’s national campaign to increase forest cover and contribute to the government’s target of planting 15 billion trees. The initiatives were coordinated by the Kenya Forest Service in collaboration with Community Forest Associations, schools, farmers, government agencies, and conservation partners. In the Central Highlands Conservancy, 66,272 Cupressus lusitanica seedlings were planted across 53.7 hectares at Nanyuki Forest Station in Nyeri County with the support of KFS officers and PELIS farmers. Other conservancies also recorded progress, including 22,004 seedlings planted in Meru, 8,000 in Tharaka-Nithi, and additional planting across Machakos, Makueni, Busia, Bungoma, Embu, Kajiado, Samburu, and Wajir counties through partnerships with schools, communities, and conservation organizations. Collectively, the activities reflect strong multi-stakeholder collaboration supporting Kenya’s landscape restoration efforts and strengthening climate resilience.

Kenya Forest Service staff residing in Karura joined their Muslim colleagues observing the Holy Month of Ramadhan for an Iftar dinner on Thursday evening at the Karura Mosque. Speaking during the gathering, which marked the beginning of the final 10 days of Ramadhan, Commandant Mohammed A. Mohammed, representing @CCF_Kenya, Alex Lemarkoko, commended the Karura community for fostering unity and harmonious coexistence. He noted that the Mosque serves as a place of worship and refuge open to all, and conveyed the CCF’s greetings and continued support in ensuring Muslims have a dedicated place of worship. Officers present included DCCF Noor Hussein, Deputy Commandant Wilson Leboo, Head of Protocol in the CCF’s Office Wilson Tonkei, IP Abdifeisal Mohammed from the Chaplaincy, and Imam Abdulkarim Duba, among other guests.

Staff of the @LondianiKfc and the Forest Law Enforcement Academy (FoLEA) today held their Annual Thanksgiving and Retirees’ Celebration, bringing together staff and friends to give thanks and honour years of dedicated service. Principal Senior Deputy Chief Conservator of Forests Dr. Clement Ngoriareng attended as Guest of Honour on behalf of the Chief Conservator of Forests Alex Lemarkoko. Former KFC Principal Dr. Elizabeth Wambugu, who recently retired, also joined the celebration as colleagues recognized her distinguished contribution to forestry training and leadership. The event reflected the spirit of gratitude, unity, and commitment that continues to strengthen forestry training and capacity building at KFC and FoLEA.