Mukogodo Walk Wild 2025: One Tree, One Step, One Landscape

The Mukogodo Walk Wild 2025 brought together hundreds of conservation partners, community members, and leaders to celebrate and protect one of Laikipia’s most important ecosystems the Mukogodo Forest. The event, held on 4th October 2025 at the Louniek Corridor, was organized by the ILMAMUSI Community Forest Association (CFA) and supported by the Laikipia Conservancies Association (LCA), Kenya Forest Service (KFS), and other partners.

This year’s walk was themed “One Tree, One Step, One Landscape” and aimed to raise KES 13 million for a fully equipped Land Cruiser to strengthen forest protection and management efforts. It also sought to raise awareness about Mukogodo Forest’s ecological, cultural, and economic significance to the Indigenous Yaaku and Maasai communities who call it home.

Participants including over 640 men, women, and youth took part in a 10-kilometre forest walk through Mukogodo’s stunning landscapes, followed by the planting of 1,000 indigenous tree seedlings as part of the ongoing forest restoration initiative. The day also featured cultural performances, conservation talks, and reflections on how communities, government, and conservancies can work together to protect critical natural habitats.

The event was graced by key leaders, among them Alex Lemarkoko, Chief Conservator of Forests at KFS, who both emphasized the importance of partnership and community-driven conservation.

The Laikipia Conservancies Association (LCA) played a pivotal role by mobilizing its member conservancies to attend and contribute to the event. Twelve member conservancies participated, showcasing a unified front for landscape-wide conservation. Their presence underscored LCA’s ongoing mission to strengthen collaboration, advocacy, and shared stewardship across the Laikipia landscape.

The Mukogodo Forest, spanning over 30,189 hectares, remains one of Kenya’s most unique dryland ecosystems rich in biodiversity, cultural heritage, and natural resources. It is home to African sandalwood, red cedar, elephants, wild dogs, and over 150 bird species, making it both a conservation priority and a source of community pride.

Speaking during the event, LCA CEO Peter Lemerian Matunge noted that the Walk Wild initiative exemplifies the power of collective action in conservation.

“When communities, government, and conservancies walk together, conservation becomes a shared journey — one step, one tree, one landscape at a time.”

The 2025 Mukogodo Walk Wild successfully strengthened partnerships, raised visibility for community-led forest management, and reaffirmed the shared commitment to preserving Mukogodo Forest for future generations.