Nairobi, Kenya, Sept 25 – Britam Foundation has unveiled a five-year reforestation plan that will see 200,000 trees planted in Mt. Elgon, a critical water tower whose degradation has worsened the effects of climate change and threatened the rights of communities to clean water, food, and a healthy environment.
The foundation has partnered with the Jumbo Charge Trust to rehabilitate 444 hectares of degraded forest land, with the first phase focusing on Cheptais, Kaberwa, Kiptogot, and Kitale Township forest blocks.
“Restoring the Mt. Elgon Water Tower is not just about planting trees, it’s about investing in the long-term health of our environment, enhancing climate resilience, and empowering local communities,” said Catherine Karita, Director of Britam Foundation.
Karita noted that the initiative will benefit local farmers by creating more predictable water patterns, boosting food production, and securing livelihoods.
Mt. Elgon is one of Kenya’s five main water towers, feeding rivers that drain into Lake Victoria and Lake Turkana. With forest cover reduced to below five percent, conservationists warn that millions of people in Kenya and Uganda face greater risks of droughts, floods, and water scarcity — all of which undermine basic human rights and deepen inequalities.
Charles Mulupi, Chairman of Jumbo Charge Trust, said the project will directly involve communities through employment opportunities, local seed sourcing, and support for livelihoods such as beekeeping and ecotourism.
“By working hand-in-hand with local communities, we will not only restore the forest but also build a powerful sense of environmental stewardship from the ground up,” Mulupi said.
Beyond tree planting, Britam Foundation will roll out financial literacy and conservation education programs to strengthen resilience. The foundation will also retain carbon rights generated from the new forest, aligning with global corporate trends in Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) investments.
The project contributes to Kenya’s National Tree Growing and Restoration Strategy and the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. It also forms part of Britam’s pledge to plant 60 million trees across Africa by 2030 as the company marks its 60th anniversary.
Environmental justice advocates note that protecting water towers like Mt. Elgon is essential not only to combat climate change but also to safeguard communities’ right to water, food, and a healthy environment — rights enshrined in Kenya’s Constitution and international human rights frameworks.
