Kenya Unveils Mount Elgon ICLIP to Boost Conservation and Community Livelihoods
NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov 5 – Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry in a media breakfast meeting at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) outline the Mount Elgon Integrated Conservation and Livelihoods Improvement Programme (Mt. Elgon-ICLIP) a major initiative designed to restore the region’s ecosystems while uplifting local communities.
Cabinet Secretary for Environment Dr. Deborah M. Barasa while presiding over highlighted the government’s renewed commitment to safeguarding Kenya’s critical water towers and forests, aligning environmental protection with economic empowerment.Dr. Barasa described the Mt. Elgon-ICLIP as a flagship project that “places people at the heart of conservation,” combining forest restoration, climate action, and community-driven livelihood projects.
The programme aims to rehabilitate degraded lands, promote sustainable agriculture, strengthen value chains, and enhance local resilience against climate shocks.
The initiative builds upon ongoing restoration and livelihood efforts in the Mount Elgon region, supported by partners such as FAO, Vi Agroforestry, and county governments.
Similar projects have already benefited thousands of smallholder farmers through agroforestry, dairy development, soil conservation, and carbon-credit generation demonstrating the power of integrated landscape management.
Mount Elgon, straddling the Kenya–Uganda border, remains one of the nation’s vital biodiversity zones and a major water source for western Kenya.
However, deforestation, land degradation, and erratic weather patterns have threatened its ecological balance and the livelihoods of communities living around it. Officials at the briefing emphasized that Mt. Elgon-ICLIP will address these challenges through collaborative restoration efforts, sustainable land-use practices, and inclusive community participation.
Additionally the Ministry pledged transparency, continuous monitoring, and partnership with the private sector and development agencies. As Kenya accelerates its 15 Billion Trees Initiative and climate adaptation agenda, the Mt. Elgon-ICLIP is expected to serve as a model for balancing conservation with economic development.
“Protecting Mount Elgon is protecting our future,” Dr. Barasa said, calling on all stakeholders from county governments to local communities to take ownership of the initiative.
The Ministry announced that detailed rollout plans, budgets, and progress updates will be shared in the coming months as field implementation begins.
