People4Nature Green Climate Fund

I had the opportunity to visit the Kaya Fungo forest on 2nd May 2022 for a meeting with the Kaya Elders and community members. It was clear upon arrival that the situation had changed since our last meeting. Our attempt to have the meeting inside the forest was unsuccessful as a new team of youthful men had taken over the supervision of the main shrine within the forest.

We eventually had our meeting outside the forest with the Kaya Elders and they informed us that every other election year for the last four election cycles in Kenya, a group takes over the management of the forest until after the general elections. Their main interest is to welcome and bless politicians seeking political office. But this year, the situation was more complicated. People had encroached on the forest and some parts had been sub-divided.

The elders advised that no activity should take place until after the general election. There were a number of solutions that were proposed including the identification and marking of the forest boundary, and the increased presence of the Kenya Forest Service, and the National Museums of Kenya, besides the County Government of Kilifi, which has the mandate to manage the forest and stop the encroachment. For the project activities, it was resolved that the cook stoves will be distributed after the elections. Other project activities identified for implementation before the end of the year include beekeeping, climate resilient livestock, and the establishment of a tree nursery to supply seedlings for restoration of the forest and farm forestry.

If the encroachment is not stopped and the identified activities are not supported, the shrine and the forest as we know it will be lost. At least 25% of the forest is encroached, including at least three sacred sites within the forest. Crop failure and inability to keep large numbers of livestock due to subdivision of land, has led to more people burning charcoal as alternative livestock.