Conservation efforts in the Mau Forest Complex are increasingly taking on a community-driven approach that combines environmental restoration with economic empowerment, agriculture and sports. This is as stakeholders prepare for the second edition of the Mau Conservation Marathon.
The marathon, unveiled in Nairobi by the Environment Principal Secretary, Festus Ng’eno, forms part of the broader Mau Forest Integrated Conservation and Livelihood Improvement Programme (MFC-ICLIP), a 10-year initiative aimed at restoring degraded forest ecosystems while improving the livelihoods of communities living around Kenya’s largest water tower.
Speaking during the launch, Dr Ng’eno described the Mau Forest Complex as a critical national resource that sustains major rivers and lakes, supports agriculture and hydropower generation, and provides livelihoods for millions of Kenyans.
“The Mau Forest Complex remains central to Kenya’s environmental and economic well-being,” he said, adding that conservation efforts must continue to involve local communities as key partners in protecting the ecosystem.
At the heart of the programme is the Trees Establishment and Livelihood Improvement Scheme (TELIS), an innovative model that allows households to cultivate food crops alongside tree seedlings. The initiative currently supports more than 4,600 households, enabling families to earn income while contributing to forest restoration.
Farmers participating in TELIS are engaged in potato farming, avocado production, pyrethrum cultivation, beekeeping and agroforestry enterprises, creating alternative livelihoods that reduce pressure on forest resources.
Since its inception, the programme has restored approximately 1,500 hectares of degraded land and facilitated the planting of 1.5 million trees. Officials report a remarkable 99 per cent tree survival rate, a milestone attributed to strong community ownership and sustained technical support.
The conservation agenda will take centre stage on July 3, 2026, when the Mau Conservation Marathon returns for its second edition under the sanctioning of Athletics Kenya. Organisers have positioned the event as more than a sporting competition, describing it as a platform for environmental awareness and action under the theme, “Transforming Footsteps into Conservation Action.”
Participants will compete in four race categories: the 42-kilometre full marathon, 21-kilometre half marathon, 10-kilometre race and a 5-kilometre corporate fun run.
The race route will traverse the scenic landscapes of the Mau Forest Complex, offering runners a challenging high-altitude experience through one of Kenya’s most important ecological zones.
To attract elite athletes and boost participation, organisers have increased prize money. Winners of the full marathon will receive Sh600,000, while top finishers in the half marathon and 10-kilometre races will earn Sh350,000 and Sh100,000 respectively. The event carries a total prize purse of Sh7.8 million.
Organisers expect approximately 2,500 participants, although early registration figures indicate that about 500 runners had already signed up by early June. Registration will close on June 25, 2026.
Dr Ng’eno called on institutions, development partners and members of the public to support the initiative, noting that every contribution helps strengthen water security, biodiversity conservation, clean energy access and sustainable livelihoods.
The programme aligns with Kenya’s ambitious national restoration agenda championed by President William Ruto, which seeks to plant 15 billion trees by 2032.
The broader strategy aims to reverse deforestation, restore 5.1 million hectares of degraded landscapes and enhance climate resilience under the African Landscape Restoration Initiative launched in December 2022.
The initiative brings together governments, civil society organisations, private sector players and local communities in a coordinated effort to combat climate change, restore biodiversity and safeguard critical ecosystems.
Kenya also aims to increase national forest cover from the current 8.8 per cent to at least 10 per cent by 2030, a target expected to improve air quality, strengthen rainfall patterns and enhance agricultural productivity.
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