The Kenya Reinsurance Corporation (Kenya Re) has donated Ksh one million to rehabilitate 400 hectares within the Kaptagat forest ecosystem. In addition, the Corporation will distribute 100,000 avocado fruit seedlings to forest edge communities to incentivise them to embrace environmental conservation as a lifestyle.

The donations have been made to the Government through the National Environment Trust Fund (NETFUND) ahead of the 7th annual Kaptagat Forest Tree Planting to be held this Saturday(1st July 2023) in Elgeyo Marakwet. Kaptagat Forest Station is part of the larger Cherangany Forest Ecosystem, an important water catchment for Lake Victoria and one of the five water towers in Kenya.

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Speaking during the cheque handover ceremony, Kenya Re Group Managing Director Dr Hillary Wachinga said,

“We are passionate about the environment, and through our Niko Fiti Environment campaign, we have contributed to our country’s efforts in combating climate change, protecting biodiversity, and achieving Sustainable Development Goal number 13 on climate change.

The avocado seedlings are aimed at giving the community a reason to double their efforts towards forest conservation by planting fruit trees within their farms for commercial gain.”

Kenya Re’s commitment to contribute towards forest rehabilitation builds on last year’s event, where they planted 50,000 tree seedlings at Uplands Forest Station in Kiambu County with support from the local community forest association. Kenya Re is slated to plant 10,000 tree seedlings at Lenana School, Nairobi, to further its environmental conservation efforts this year.

NETFUND CEO, Mr Samson Toniok, said:

“We thank Kenya Re for supporting this year’s tree-planting event. Your donation directly benefits the community-based women and youth-led organisations engaged in the tree nursery business that will provide the 500,000 indigenous tree seedlings that will be planted this year. Local communities are key to the success of forest conservation.”

This year, the Kaptagat Forest Annual Tree Planting event will take place around Kessup, Sabor, Kaptagat, Pennon and Kipkabus forest blocks.

The Corporation’s support for environmental conservation comes from enhancing its brand awareness via its well-known flagship Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme – Niko Fiti. The programme has now been revamped to include 3 pillars –Education, environment, and support for persons with disability.