Nyeri County has the highest forest cover density in Kenya, with nearly half of the devolved unit covered by trees, signalling the gains of public-private conservancy efforts and afforestation campaigns, especially around the Mt Kenya and the Aberdare range catchments.
New data by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) shows that Nyeri had the highest forest cover relative to its size at 45.76 percent as of 2024, followed by Lamu (41.76 percent) and Elgeyo Marakwet (31.37 percent).
‘Significant growth was observed in Nandi (24.46 percent to 30.47 percent), Kakamega (16.35 percent to 20.05 percent), Migori (6.21 percent to 9.36 percent), Kisii (21.2 percent to 22.87 percent), and Makueni (8.74 percent to 10.53 percent),’ KNBS said in an analysis covering the period 2019 to 2024.
Nyeri County is host to conservancy campaigns by various groups including the Kenya Forestry Service, Greenbelt Movement, Nature Kenya, Mount Kenya Trust, and International Tree Foundation, which are keen on safeguarding the Aberdare Ranges and Mt Kenya water towers that serve users as far as Nairobi.
They serve as the primary headwaters for major river basins-including the Tana, Athi-Galana-Sabaki, Ewaso Ng’iro and Malewa rivers, and supply over 90 percent of Nairobi’s water via key reservoirs like the Ndakaini and Sasumua dams.
The forest density in Kiambu declined from 18.04 percent to 17.2 percent, Narok (15.9 percent to 15.13 percent), Murang’a (24.58 percent to 24.54 percent), Wajir (0.16 percent to 0.14 percent), Lamu (42 percent to 41.76 percent), and Elgeyo/Marakwet (31.66 percent to 31.37 percent), KNBS said.
Kenya recorded a net increase of approximately 124,003 hectares of forest cover across counties over the five years to 2024.
‘It was noted that there were good performers in terms of forest increase. Turkana registered the highest increase of +23,978 hectares (245,235 to 269,213 ha), followed by Nandi (+17,134 ha) and Makueni (+14,657 ha),’ the statistics office said.
‘Other notable gains include Kakamega (+11,184 ha), Migori (+8,236 ha), and Marsabit (+8,111 ha). Moderate increases were observed in Uasin Gishu (+6,257 ha), Nyeri (+5,759 ha), Nyandarua (+4,949 ha), and Tana River (+4,340 ha).’
Forest losses were, however, recorded in several counties, with Narok experiencing the largest decline of 13,800 hectares (285,122 to 271,322 ha). This was followed by Kiambu with a drop of 2,128 ha, Mandera (1,948 ha), Lamu (1,458 ha), Wajir (1,059 ha), and Elgeyo/Marakwet (889 ha).
Murang’a recorded a marginal decline of 120 hectares, while West Pokot remained stable at 56,323 hectares.
‘Forest dynamics in Kenya are largely determined by the interplay between afforestation and deforestation processes. Between 2019 and 2024, the country recorded an overall positive trend in forest cover, with a net increase of approximately 124,003 hectares,’ KNBS said.
‘This expansion is primarily attributable to cumulative afforestation of 342,427 hectares, which substantially exceeds total deforestation of 218,424 hectares. On an annual basis, this corresponds to an average of about 68,485 hectares afforested, compared to 43,685 hectares deforested, underscoring the dominant role of restoration efforts in driving net forest gains.’