This archive report was first published on 24 December 2021.
Published on December 24, 2021, Coca-Cola Beverages Africa-Kenya (CCBA-K) has embarked on a significant initiative to plant 90,000 tree seedlings in Mt Kenya's Hombe forest.
The project, a collaborative effort with Nature Kenya, aims to preserve the country's catchment areas and is set to take place within a three-year period, divided into two phases.
According to Susan Maingi, Public Affairs and Communications Director at Coca-Cola, phase one of the restoration project has already been completed, with 15,000 seedlings successfully planted in the region.
The Hombe restoration site, which includes a swamp on the verge of drying up, is expected to be revitalized as the newly planted trees mature.
Maingi emphasized the importance of preserving Mt. Kenya's catchment area, citing its status as the most productive basin for agriculture in Kenya, supplying 95 percent of Nairobi's water.
"We will maintain Coca-Cola's global metric of 100 percent water replenishment, focusing on improving watershed health in water-stressed areas that are critical to our business, our communities, and our agricultural supply chain," Maingi said.
Wilson Thige, chairperson of the Hombe Community Forest Association (CFA), expressed his optimism about the project, highlighting its potential to generate income for local residents through the sale of seedlings.
"I am grateful to the management of Coca-Cola Beverages Africa-Kenya and Nature Kenya for their support towards restoration of our forest. I appeal to others to also join us in making Hombe and the larger Mt. Kenya forest regain its original state," Thige added.
Mt Kenya forest is home to a rich array of flora and fauna, including the critically endangered Mountain Bongo and Kenya Jewel Damselfly, and the vulnerable Abbott's Starling.
