The Co-operative Bank of Kenya has committed to restoring degraded sections of Kakamega Forest, Kenya’s only Guinea-Congolian rainforest, through a five-year environmental conservation programme.
The lender announced that it will rehabilitate five acres of degraded forest land every year for the next five years in partnership with the Kakamega Forest Heritage Foundation and the Kenya Forest Service.
The initiative aims to restore indigenous tree cover, enhance biodiversity and strengthen efforts to protect one of Kenya’s most ecologically significant forests.
Under the programme, the partners will plant indigenous tree species to revive degraded ecosystems while promoting long-term environmental sustainability. The restoration effort is expected to contribute to improved carbon sequestration, habitat protection for wildlife and greater resilience against the impacts of climate change.
Kakamega Forest is internationally recognised for its rich biodiversity and unique ecosystem, hosting hundreds of bird, mammal, butterfly and plant species, many of which are found nowhere else in Kenya. Conservationists have long warned that human activities, including deforestation and encroachment, continue to threaten the forest’s ecological integrity.
The bank said the partnership reflects its commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainable development by investing in initiatives that safeguard the country’s natural heritage for future generations.
The collaboration also underscores the growing role of the private sector in supporting national conservation efforts through strategic partnerships with government agencies and environmental organisations.
By adopting sections of the forest for restoration over the next five years, the partners hope to accelerate ecosystem recovery while demonstrating how collaborative action can help preserve Kenya’s remaining natural forests and promote a greener, more sustainable future.
