Kayas get Sh41 million grant for conservation

Kayas get Sh41 million grant for conservation.

Seven Mijikenda sacred forests in Kilifi County have received more than Sh41 million grant for their conservation.

The kayas, registered as world heritage sites, are threatened with degradation as a result of human activities.

Two other kayas in Kwale County also benefited from the funds through the Global Environment Facility (GEF) small grants programme. The fund is aimed at strengthening capacity of coastal communities and institutions for effective management of the ecologically sensitive kayas.

The kayas form part of the Eastern African Coastal Forests Eco Region recognised as of global importance.

The programme is funded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF Kenya) as its strategic partner who helped train and support 22 groups within the landscape to submit the proposals for funding.

The kayas that benefited from the grant are Kaya Ribe, Jibana, Kambe, Kauma, Rabai, Chonyi and Fungo in Kilifi, and Kaya Gandini and Mtswakara in Kwale.