“Coming Home to Mount Elgon: A Personal Journey to Restore, Protect and Reimagine a Vital Ecosystem”
Growing up in the shadow of Mount Elgon, the mountain was never just a landscape to me it was home. My childhood memories are tied to its forests, its rivers, and the communities that live along its slopes. Even when life took me far away for studies and later for my career, something about the mountain always pulled me back. Some places never really let you go.
So, when I was invited to serve as the Mount Elgon Ecosystem Patron, it felt less like a new responsibility and more like destiny calling me home. It was as if fate was quietly saying, “You have always cared about this mountain now here is your chance to protect it.” I accepted the role not just with pride, but with a deep sense of duty to give back to the community and the ecosystem that shaped me.
And today that journey has begun with an update progress that was presented to me by the Mt. Elgon Integrated Conservation and Livelihood Improvement Program team as the Patron of Mt. Elgon-ICLIP initiative.
The progress update details guidance on the International Day of Forest to be held on 21st March 2026 as well as the involvement of potential partners that have shown interest in this initiative including Mt. Elgon Professionals Community, Organizations, Institutions and Government agencies.
One of the partners Kenya Seed; has already donated 6,000 indigenous tree seedlings aimed towards the restoration program.
I also had a candid conversation with World-Wide Fund (WWF) Kenya C.E.O Mr. Jackson Kiplagat on the ways we can protect the vital water tower which serves the entire western region and ways in which we can create a resilient landscape where thriving ecosystems support prosperous and sustainable communities by improving their economic livelihood which is reliant on agriculture. This initiative comes at a time when there is a lot of land degradation leading to the Loss of agriculturally viable land.
The partnership with the WWF-Kenya is also playing a critical role in protecting the elephant population within the Mount Elgon ecosystem while at the same time creating greater awareness about the immense tourism potential of the region.
One of the most remarkable attractions within the ecosystem is the legendary Kitum Cave, a natural wonder that has fascinated visitors and researchers from around the world. Beyond its unique geological features, the cave is famous for attracting elephants that venture deep inside to mine salt from its walls; a rare spectacle that highlights the delicate relationship between wildlife and the mountain’s natural resources.
By working together with WWF and other stakeholders, we are not only strengthening conservation efforts but also positioning the Mount Elgon ecosystem as a unique eco-tourism destination. Protecting wildlife while showcasing natural attractions like Kitum Cave helps create sustainable opportunities for local communities through tourism, conservation, and environmental stewardship.
Finally, this restoration initiative will also catalyze critical infrastructure development within the Mount Elgon ecosystem. One of the key projects under consideration is the development of a ring road around the mountain—stretching from Suam through Endebess and Kaptama to Chepkube.
Beyond improving connectivity for communities living around the mountain, the road will serve a strategic conservation purpose. By clearly demarcating and safeguarding the forest boundary, it will help protect the fragile ecosystem from encroachment while enhancing surveillance and access for conservation efforts.
At the same time, improved infrastructure will unlock economic opportunities by supporting eco-tourism, facilitating movement of goods and people, and opening up the region for sustainable investment—ensuring that conservation and development go hand in hand for the benefit of the communities that call the Mount Elgon landscape home.
