I&M Bank, through its I&M Foundation, has committed Ksh 162 million towards the first phase of ‘Project Imarisha Ngong’ Forest’, an ambitious environmental initiative aimed at fencing, restoring, and developing critical infrastructure within Ngong Forest.
The unveiling ceremony was graced by outgoing Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, Aden Duale, I&M Bank Executive Director Sarit Raja-Shah, Kenya Forest Service (KFS) Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF) Alex Lemarkoko and I&M Bank Founder and Chairman Emeritus S.BR Shah, among other senior bank and foundation leaders.
Speaking at the event, CS Duale emphasized the economic and social importance of restoring Nairobi’s green spaces, noting that environmental conservation is not just a duty but an essential investment.
“We commend I&M Foundation’s leadership in ensuring this vision becomes a reality,” Duale remarked.
Sarit Raja-Shah outlined the key developments funded by the project, including the construction of rangers’ housing featuring apartment units and three-bedroom bungalows to boost forest security, the drilling of boreholes and installation of water tanks to support seedling survival and the establishment of six modern ablution blocks for public convenience.
Additionally, he announced the installation of two new access gates at Southern Bypass and Kibera, designed to enhance security and accessibility.
Raja-Shah highlighted I&M Group’s commitment to sustainability, aligning the project with Kenya’s ambitious goal of planting 15 billion trees by 2032.
“Through projects like Ngong Forest, we aim to positively impact 10 million lives by 2026. This is just the beginning, and we invite like-minded organisations to join us in these efforts,” he stated.
Since the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between I&M Foundation and KFS in April 2024, the project has made significant progress, including engaging communities in Dagoretti South, Kibera and Lang’ata through public participation exercises, securing an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) license from NEMA, creating 682 jobs by clearing invasive species and expanding trails, rehabilitating three hectares of degraded forest, sinking a borehole, installing five kilometers of electrified fencing and developing 35 kilometers of nature trails.
KFS Chief Conservator Alex Lemarkoko noted that revitalizing Ngong Forest would alleviate pressure on Karura Forest, which currently hosts over 70,000 visitors monthly.
“This sanctuary is not just a forest; it is a critical ecosystem at the heart of Nairobi,” he said.
Marking five years of impactful initiatives, the I&M Foundation continues to channel 2 per cent of the bank’s annual Profit Before Tax (PBT) towards social and environmental projects.
Its commitment to sustainability extends beyond Kenya to Uganda, Rwanda and Mauritius, where similar conservation efforts are underway.
