Our Focus
The Kakamega Forest Heritage Foundation through its Conservation Fund and Empowerment Fund, has set up programs whose objectives are aligned to the U.N Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that were adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030.
1. Conservation & Restoration
The Kakamega forest is the last, and only surviving remnant of the great, and ancient, Guineo-Congolian tropical rainforest. This form a large band of tree cover that once spanned the entire continent from east to west. Our very last piece of history, from millions of years ago.
As a result of human activity, and exacerbated by the effects of climate change, this little piece of history is at a constant risk of erasure. The local communities encroach into the forest for pasture and firewood. It is for this reason that active efforts need to be taken to conserve and restore the forest.
Any kind of forest restoration must be undertaken with the participation of as many people involved as possible, both directly and indirectly. We acknowledge that, the efforts are most likely to succeed when experts and conservationists deeply engage with the communities who depend on the forests in question and work with the government and other key parties that manage the land and work to conserve forests
Trees by 2025
Acres of forest Restored
What we do
Forest restoration is by far not only a scientific question, but it calls for policies that can set the suitable framework and incentives. Most importantly, there’s a need for forest managers, practitioners, and community agents – those working out there in the forest – to be seamlessly integrated into the process of finding solutions because they have the wealth of experience of what actually works and doesn’t work in practice.
Forest Restoration
through tree planting in the depleted areas by schools, colleges and communities in the forest ecosystem.
Forest Conservation
through tree planting on individual plots adjacent to the forest to provide alternative wood sources to the forest; through education and awareness campaigns on the benefits of forest conservation to schools, colleges and ecosystem communities;
Sustainable use of forest resources
through education on the importance of traditional medicinal plants;
Research and Development
to promote and encourage this through a partnership with universities and other scientific research institutions globally;
Forest Agriculture
to promote forest-based agricultural activities like mushroom growing, silkworm rearing, medicinal herbs and bee-keeping out of the forest
2. Community Education
The Foundation holds education as a very strong pillar in the conservation and restoration of the Kakamega forest ecosystem. We believe that an educated community is a step closer to more sustainable use of the forest and its preservation. It is for this reason that we’ve partnered with over 10 community schools to actively support them in the construction, renovation, and provision of school supplies. The Education Department of the Kakamega Forest Heritage Foundation conducts programs for the Youth in educational institutions under the Empowerment Pillar
We take the young students through a life skills program that educates the youth on:
• Christian values including, chastity, integrity, honor, humility, and generosity
• Substance and Drug abuse
• Early Pregnancies –prevention and mitigation thereafter
• Moral traps for the youth in society.
• Career preparation and progression
• Holistic living and good citizenry
Through this program, we’ve progressively developed a proactive and very enthusiastic cohort each year.
Students Impacted
Schools Supported
3. Social Empowerment & Health
We believe, that healthy communities are a strong pillar to passionately guarding and protecting its own natural resources. It is for this reason that the foundation partners up with Hospitals and health institutions to periodically bring medical services closer to the people.
Previously, in collaboration with the Nairobi Hospital, we hosted a free medical camp at Musingu Primary School. The free medical camp provided treatment and medicines for all ailments to people of all ages who turned up on the day
The free medical clinic events see a good level of reception each year, with over 1,250 patients seen, treated or referred to specialists. The patients were indeed grateful to both the Nairobi Hospital, the volunteering medical personnel and to the Foundation for the valuable health service rendered without charge.
Free medical camps, health talks and health walks are offered by the Foundation and Partners, in line with the Pillar of Social Empowerment and Health.
Patients impacted
Medical Camp Events
Pads, Pants & Underwear (PPU) Initiative
Commonly, in the rural communities of Kenya, most households struggle with the efforts to provide the basic personal hygiene products to children and young adults. In many occasions, young girls undergoing puberty face several days of absenteeism from school every time they go through their menstrual cycles. In the worse case scenarios, some girls, from the shame of soiling their clothes, completely drop out of school as a result of the impact to their self-esteem. The alternative, is using crude unhygienic methods to cope with their menstruation problems, which is a health risk.
It is for this reason that individuals, and organizations of goodwill, come together to provide sanitary towels. We’ve figured out that the most effective way to distribute these hygiene products is in partnership with learning institutions. This directly contributes to successful learner retention within the school system, and adds on to the bottom line of a more educated community
Background of the PPU Initiative
Donations of sanitary pads and pants to the girl child has taken place for the last fifteen years. Prior to founding of the Kakamega Forest Heritage Foundation in 2015, the program was led by Lugala Nairobi Welfare Association.
How it works
The donation of the sanitary pads on the basis of one year’s supply per girl in the adopted schools has led to tremendous improvement of the academic performance as well as the confidence of the girl child. It was later ascertained that the boy child too suffered embarrassment by lack of under garments while at school and their request to be considered was accepted by the Foundation. Through the program, we also provide panties (for young women) and underwear/briefs (for boys).
Beneficiary Schools of the PPU Initiative
• Holy Cross Injira Secondary School,
• St. Agnes Secondary School, Shibuye
• Solyo School
• Lugala Primary School
• Lugala Secondary School
• Murhanda Secondary School
• Lirhanda Mixed Secondary School
4. The Kakamega Forest Marathon
Established by the Kakamega Forest Heritage Foundation in 2015 the Kakamega Forest Marathon follows a breath-taking route through the heart of Kakamega Forest. 2022 will be the 6th edition of the marathon.
The Marathon boasts to he the heritage, and formative foundations, of world-class athletes such as Judith Korir Jeptum (2022 Marathon de Paris Champion), and Brigid Kosgei (2021 Tokyo Marathon Champion).
The Kakamega Forest Marathon is part of a wider project to sensitize the world on the need to protect indigenous forests. The Kakamega forest has over the years been exploited and if measures are not put in place to rein in this, there is a risk that we may soon lose the same.
The purpose of the marathon is to:
• celebrate the beauty and diversity of Kakamega Forest;
• raise awareness of the key challenges facing the Kakamega Forest;
• engage forest communities in sustainable forest activities;
• raise funds to support the programs of the Kakamega Forest Heritage Foundation.
Elite Runners
Global Champion Alumni
How You Can Help
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