First Lady Mama Rachel Ruto on Thursday June 25, 2026 was in Marindas Restoration Area of Bararget Forest, in Kuresoi North where she led a landmark environmental conservation and livelihoods initiative under the Mau Forest Complex Integrated Conservation and Livelihoods Improvement Programme (MFC-ICLIP).
The First Lady was hosted by Dr. Eng. Festus Ng’eno, Principal Secretary, State Department for Environment and Climate Change and Patron of MFC-ICLIP.
Accompanied by national and county leaders including Cabinet Secretaries Dr. Deborah Barasa (Environment), Ms. Hanna Wendot Cheptumo (Gender), Amb. Canon Dr. Ida Betty Odinga, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Republic of Kenya to UNEP, Principal Secretaries Mr. Gitonga Mugambi (Forestry) Aurelia Chepkirui Rono (Parliamentary Affairs), Nakuru County Woman Rep Hon Liza Chelule Woman Rep Nakuru County, Kuresoi North MP Mutai Alfred, Green generation initiative Elizabeth Wathuti – Liz Mazingira among others.
During the visit Mama Rachel Ruto officially adopted a 31-hectare restoration block within the Mau Forest Complex, planted ceremonial indigenous trees as well as commissioned a one-million-seedling tree nursery, underscoring her commitment to large-scale ecosystem restoration and climate action.
The delegation would later proceed to Baringo Primary School, where the First Lady will commission a biogas unit, a kitchen garden, waste management facilities and flagging off fruit tree seedlings for women farmers.
Later, the First Lady will launch One Tourist, One Tree Initiative” by the Kenya Tourism Board a partnership between MFC-ICLIP and Kenya Tourism Board.
These efforts reaffirm government commitment to environmental conservation, food security, sustainable livelihoods and community empowerment.
MFC-ICLIP is a ten-year flagship programme, that seeks to restore and sustainably manage the Mau Forest Complex through an integrated conservation and livelihood improvement approach, enhancing ecosystem functionality, climate resilience, and socio-economic wellbeing for communities living around the forest.