A renewed push to safeguard the 65,000-hectare Mount Elgon ecosystem has gained momentum following the official launch of the annual Mount Elgon Conservation Week at Mount Elgon National Park.
The weeklong environmental conservation drive has brought together national and county leaders, conservation agencies, corporate partners, schools and local communities from Bungoma County and Trans Nzoia County in a united effort to rehabilitate and safeguard one of Kenya’s most vital water towers.
The Assistant Director in charge of the Greater Mount Elgon region at the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), Colins Omondi, emphasized the central role of local communities in conserving the ecosystem.
“We cannot conserve this ecosystem alone. The community is a key stakeholder because their livelihoods — water, agriculture and livestock — depend entirely on this mountain,” said Mr. Omondi.
Omondi cautioned that rising population pressure and increasing demand for natural resources pose a significant threat to the ecosystem.
“The resource base remains constant, yet the population continues to grow. If we fail to act now, we will face serious environmental challenges in the future,” he warned.
He disclosed that KWS, in collaboration with the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) and other stakeholders, is implementing rehabilitation plans including reforestation of degraded catchment areas. A portion of park gate collections will be allocated toward ecosystem restoration programs.
Mount Elgon supplies water for domestic use, irrigation and livestock farming across western Kenya and parts of the Rift Valley. The ecosystem also sustains biodiversity, cultural heritage sites and tourism activities that contribute to local and national economic growth.
Trans Nzoia County Executive Committee Member for Water, Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change Robert Wamalwa and his Bungoma County counterpart stressed the need for coordinated action to address environmental degradation and climate change.
He observed that conservation of the Mount Elgon ecosystem requires synergy between national and county governments, agencies, development partners and host communities.
“Climate change is a cross-cutting issue that demands cross-sector collaboration. We must work together to protect this water tower for present and future generations,” Wamalwa said.
Mt. Elgon Trust Foundation Chairman Christopher Pauls called for renewed government investment to restore the ecosystem’s biodiversity and rejuvenate tourism.
He advocated for rehabilitation of existing lodges and the establishment of additional eco-friendly accommodation facilities to unlock Mount Elgon’s tourism potential.
Pauls, whose family has a long history in conservation efforts around the mountain, pledged continued support for initiatives aimed at preserving the park’s ecological and cultural heritage.
The launch event featured the planting of indigenous trees within the park as a symbolic and practical step toward restoring the water catchment area.
The Mount Elgon Conservation Week will culminate on Sunday, February 22, with Mining Principal Secretary Harry Kimutai expected to preside over the closing ceremony alongside governors and regional leaders from western Kenya.
