• Kenya’s First Lady,  Rachel Ruto, has taken an important step in environmental conservation by adopting a 22-hectare forest block within the Mau Forest Complex.

Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika has presided over the launch of the Mau Conservation Marathon 2025 at the Rift Valley Sports Club in Nakuru County under the Mau Forest Complex Integrated Conservation and Livelihood Improvement Programme (MCF-ICLI.

Tree Growing session culminated the launch of the Conservation Marathon. Launched in July 2023, the  10-year, KSh 21.5 billion initiative led by Kenya’s Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry aims to restore and sustainably manage the Mau Forest Complex.

Tree Growing session to culminate the launch of the Mau Conservation Marathon under Mau Forest Complex Integrated Conservation and Livelihood Improvement Programme (MCF-ICLIP). (Photo credit: X)

Kenya’s First Lady Rachel Ruto, has taken an important step in environmental conservation by adopting a 22-hectare forest block within the Mau Forest Complex.

This move, part of the Mau Forest Complex Integrated Conservation and Livelihood Improvement Programme (MFC-ICLIP), aligns with the national 15 Billion Tree Growing Campaign and sets a powerful example for ecological stewardship.

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The initiative, spearheaded by the State Department for Environment and Climate Change under the patronage of Principal Secretary Dr. Eng. Festus K. Ng’eno, aims to restore Kenya’s largest water tower while shaping livelihoods for surrounding communities. 

In a strategic meeting held on September 29, 2025 to discuss implementation, Dr. Ng’eno met with representatives from the First Lady’s “Mama Doing Good” organization, including Environment Director Arnold Kipchumba and CEO Dr. Elizabeth Koskei. The discussions focused on integrating conservation efforts with community development, particularly targeting women and schoolchildren.

The focus of the program involves transitioning selected schools to biogas energy systems. These installations convert organic waste into clean, renewable energy, reducing dependence on fuelwood and easing pressure on forest resources.

With knowing the important role of women in conservation and household welfare, MFC-ICLIP is also rolling out capacity building programs for 460 women’s groups. According to the Mau Complex official X channel, this aims to ," equip women with the skills to start