10 Community Based Organizations (CBOs) in Tharaka Nithi and Meru Counties benefited from this initiative.
Mount Kenya ecosystem has been described as “one of the most impressive landscapes of Eastern Africa. Covering 2135 km² the expansive ecosystem lies in five counties including Meru, Embu, Kirinyaga, Nyeri and Tharaka Nithi. Being a Key Biodiversity Area (KBA), the forest is home to various endangered species such as the Abbott’s Starling and Mount Kenya Bush Viper, among others. Critically important, the ecosystem is a catchment area providing water and other essential ecosystem services to adjacent communities and the entire country.
However, Mount Kenya forest’s rich biodiversity is faced by a myriad of threats including forest adjacent land conversion, illegal tree felling, wildlife poaching, and climate change. According to a study published in Springer Nature climate change and human activities are expected to result in the loss of 49-55 per cent of the vegetation cover in the forest regions of Mount Kenya by 2040. Against this backdrop, Adept Conservation Network (ACN) with funding from Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) implemented the ‘Voices for Just Climate Change between January and May 2025. The project targeted 10 Community Based Organizations (CBOs) in Tharaka Nithi and Meru Counties. Key aims of the project included strengthening capacity of the CBOs in implementing climate resilience initiatives, improving community leadership in climate action, and building advocacy skills of CBOs to effectively influence and contribute to climate resilience policies and practices.
Climate change trainings
As part of project implementation, climate change training was held in Chuka and Meru, from 28th-31st March 2025. The trainings In Chuka the training brought together 28 participants including 12 men and 16 women drawn from five CBOs in Tharaka Nithi County namely Njuri, Kirege, Kiang’ondu, Karamani, and Mitheru.
In Meru, the training was conducted in two phases. The first of these took place from 28th– 31st March 2025 and brought together 28 community participants comprising of 11 men and 17 women, mainly beekeepers and farmers. Three CBOs from Upper Imenti region were represented in this training including KISTATHEK Beekeepers, Ntakira Parent Nursery, and Meru Forest Environment and Forest Protection Community Association (MEFECAP-CFA) Ecotourism CBO
The second phase of the training targeted two CBOs from Igembe region, involved in water catchment conservation and water resource management including Gaciuu Makutano Nkanga Water Catchment Conservation and Users Association and Kiruyu 2 Water Catchment Conservation and Users Association. 30 participants including 12 men and 18 women participated in the training
During these training courses, participants engaged in interactive sessions, with practical examples and case studies. These enhanced participants’ understanding of climate change and its impacts, link between climate change and the communities’ dwindling livelihoods, further, participants identified local-level climate change adaptation and mitigation measures, in addition to participatory management approaches.
“The training on climate change by ACN sharpened my knowledge of the topic particularly the concept on causes, effects and mitigation actions. I have joined TIST, a programme that is promoting tree growing for carbon sequestration as a primary method of addressing climate change “, said Khadija Kinanu, a member of Ntakira Parent (tree) Nursery, a constituent group of MEFECAP.
“As a result of these trainings, the CBOs are more empowered to take a leading role in addressing climate change in the two counties, enabling the local communities to take action beginning at the grassroots levels”, saidJuliet Mbaka, Programme Coordinator at ACN.
Capacitating CBOs in Advocacy and Lobbying
The CBOs also benefitted from advocacy and lobbying training, aimed at equipping participants with skills to identify relevant stakeholders to engage with in conservation and climate action – including public and private institutions, information and resources needed for effective advocacy and lobbying in addition to effectively driving climate action and conservation conversations. A total of 48 participants, including 21 men and 27 women drawn from 8 CBOs in Tharaka Nithi and Meru counties benefited from this training, held in May 2025.
“We are grateful for the opportunity to acquire lobbying and advocacy skills. We face a lot of water riparian area issues. We now know how to effectively address them” noted James Muriki, a member of Gaciuu Water Users Association, Meru County.
Fostering Collaborations
The CBOs also benefitted from networking and partnerships training which equipped them with requisite skills and practical strategies to build networks, share experiences, and identify potential partnerships for resource mobilization and stronger advocacy on climate action initiatives. About 49 participants including 23 men and 26 women drawn from five CBOs in the two counties benefitted from this training
“Public involvement and participation are crucial for effective climate change action, as they drive behavior change, foster support for policies, and ensure that climate action is inclusive and just. By so doing, the County government of Tharaka Nithi consistently endeavor to create enduring relationship with our citizens by adopting an approach that goes beyond standard citizen participation principles to making their views an integrated, formalized part of county projects and programs”, concludes Gerald Nyaga, Director of Environment at Tharaka Nithi County Government.
