29 Jun EBK Joins National Conservation Drive as First Lady Leads Mau Forest Restoration Initiative

June 29, 2026 – The Engineers Board of Kenya (EBK) joined other national and county government leaders, development partners, environmental champions, and local communities in supporting a landmark environmental conservation and livelihoods initiative led by H.E. Mama Rachel Ruto, First Lady of the Republic of Kenya, at the Marindas Restoration Area in Bararget Forest, Kuresoi North.

The event, held under the Mau Forest Complex Integrated Conservation and Livelihoods Improvement Programme (MFC-ICLIP), highlighted Kenya’s continued commitment to restoring the Mau Forest Complex while strengthening the livelihoods of communities that depend on the ecosystem.

Hosted by Dr. Eng. Festus Ng’eno, Principal Secretary, State Department for Environment and Climate Change and Patron of MFC-ICLIP, the initiative brought together Cabinet Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, county leaders, government agencies—including the Engineers Board of Kenya—and development partners to advance ecosystem restoration and climate resilience.

During the visit, the First Lady adopted a 31-hectare restoration block, symbolising her commitment to the long-term rehabilitation of the Mau Forest Complex. She also planted indigenous trees and commissioned a one-million-seedling tree nursery that will support ongoing forest restoration efforts.

The programme also showcased integrated community development initiatives. At Baringo Primary School, the First Lady commissioned a biogas unit, a kitchen garden, and waste management facilities aimed at promoting clean energy, environmental sustainability, and improved nutrition. She further flagged off the distribution of fruit tree seedlings to women farmers to enhance food security, climate resilience, and sustainable livelihoods.

The event concluded with the launch of the One Tourist, One Tree Initiative, a partnership between MFC-ICLIP and the Kenya Tourism Board that encourages every visitor to Kenya to contribute to forest restoration by planting a tree, reinforcing the role of sustainable tourism in environmental conservation.

As a key regulator of the engineering profession in Kenya, EBK’s participation underscored the critical role engineers play in environmental stewardship, sustainable infrastructure development, climate adaptation, and the achievement of national restoration goals. The Board remains committed to supporting initiatives that promote sustainable development and safeguard the country’s natural resources for future generations.

The Mau Forest Complex Integrated Conservation and Livelihoods Improvement Programme is a ten-year flagship initiative focused on restoring and sustainably managing the Mau Forest Complex while enhancing biodiversity conservation, climate resilience, and the socio-economic wellbeing of communities living around the forest.