Ruto Sounds Alarm Over Forest Degradation, Cites Threat To Economy
Speaking at the 37th Rhino Charge in Wamba, Samburu County, Ruto said environmental conservation and economic development were closely linked, warning that the degradation of forest resources could undermine gains made across multiple productive sectors.
By Staff Writer
Kenya’s forests contribute an estimated Sh611 billion annually to the economy and remain central to the country’s water security, President William Ruto said on Sunday as he called for increased investment in conservation initiatives to protect ecosystems that support agriculture, energy production and manufacturing.
Speaking at the 37th Rhino Charge in Wamba, Samburu County, Ruto said environmental conservation and economic development were closely linked, warning that the degradation of forest resources could undermine gains made across multiple productive sectors.
The annual off-road motorsport fundraiser, organised by Rhino Ark Charitable Trust, has raised more than Sh2.8 billion over the past 37 years for the protection and rehabilitation of Kenya’s mountain forests, including the Aberdare Range, Mount Kenya, the Mau Forest Complex and Kakamega Forest.
The President used the occasion to reaffirm his administration’s commitment to planting one billion trees this year under the Jaza Miti campaign, which seeks to increase Kenya’s tree cover to 30 per cent by 2032. He also said the Integrated Natural Resources Management Secretariat was developing a policy framework to improve coordination among government agencies and conservation partners.
“We do not merely admire these forests, we depend on them because they touch every sector of our nation,” Ruto said.
Kenya’s five major water towers, the Mau Forest Complex, Mount Kenya, the Aberdares, Mount Elgon and the Cherangani Hills, provide most of the country’s freshwater resources and support key river systems that sustain agriculture, industry and hydropower generation.
The economic significance of the forestry sector continues to grow. According to the Economic Survey 2026, the value of forestry and logging activities rose to Sh396.7 billion in 2025 from Sh339.3 billion the previous year. The figure does not account for wider ecosystem services such as water regulation, carbon sequestration and tourism, whose economic value extends beyond direct forestry revenues.
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