Sheila Nakure, 28, recalls a time when insecurity plagued Mukutani, Baringo County. Residents, including her Ilchamus community, lived in fear due to frequent cattle raids and attacks, requiring armed escorts to fetch water or firewood. Now, peace is returning to the area, largely due to efforts by security agencies and a proposal to convert Mukutani into a public forest.
Nakure, a member of the Lemaitai Mukutani Community Forest Association, highlighted the benefits of the forest initiative. Members can buy fruit trees at discounted rates, which has boosted local nutrition and tree cover.
Former senior chief Jones Kirati fled Mukutani after his retirement in 2004 due to escalating insecurity, primarily caused by cattle raiding linked to land disputes. The situation worsened in 2005, leading to several fatalities and displacements.
The association’s chairman, Geoffrey Ole Ngusuranga, said converting community land to a public forest was a long process that began in 2012, after previous attempts in 1984 failed. The forest, gazetted to prevent environmental degradation and improve security, is divided into the Lemaitai and Mukutani blocks. These areas were chosen for their ecological, economic, and socio-cultural importance, as well as their role in reducing conflicts over natural resources.
Since 2013, the Ilchamus community has sought to conserve the area, presenting their case at an international forum in 2015. Challenges, including poverty, displacement, and conflicts, have driven efforts to preserve the region’s water catchment, grazing areas, and vegetation.
The transformation into a public forest has brought hope and stability to Mukutani, fostering peace and offering new opportunities for the community.
