Fencing Mt Kenya to cost Sh1 billion

By Marion Ndung’u

Rhino Ark Trust Chairman Colin Church has said fencing of Mount Kenya forest that kicked off in April will cost Sh1 billion.

The exercise is expected to be complete in five years.

Mr Church was speaking during the annual Aberdare fence relay run that was flagged off by former Attorney General Charles Njonjo.

The great grandson of Lord Aberdare who the forest is named after, Lord Alastair Aberdare, also attended the event. Lord Aberdare was the president of the Royal Geographical Society in London in the 1880s.

This year’s event will involve 600 school children in communities living along the Aberdare fence in a move aimed at sensitising them on conservation of the eco-system.

“The Aberdare generates an income of just under Sh50 billion annually in products, services and biodiversity. We are also about to start fencing Eburu forest in the Mau, which will cost Sh100 million,” said Church.

Aberdare said he is privileged to be the first one among his family to visit the park and encouraged surrounding communities and schools to continue with conservation efforts.

He also read a message from Queen Elizabeth II of England who appreciated efforts of the Rhino Ark in conservation and commemoration of her Diamond jubilee. 

The school children will be joined by three volunteers from St John’s Wales in the event that is expected to take 14 days.

water towers

The 400km fence at Aberdare took 21 years to be complete but Rhino Ark Executive Director Christian Lamberechts is optimistic that the Mount Kenya fence, which covers the same distance, will be complete in five years.

The much smaller 50km Eburu fence is expected to be complete in 18 months.  The Government allocated Sh100 million towards the fencing of the forest areas in the last budget.

Recently the Government announced plans to fence off main water towers including Mau Forest and Mt Kenya to reduce illegal human activities like logging and poaching.