Cheptongei Participatory Forest Management Plan

The Cheptongei Participatory Forest Management Plan outlines a collaborative approach to sustainably managing the 23,350.7-hectare Cheptongei Forest, which includes Kapchemutwa, Sogotio, Cheboyit, and Kipkunur blocks. Gazetted between 1941 and 1967, the forest is managed by Kenya Forest Service (KFS) through the Cheptongei Forest Station. This plan was developed through extensive stakeholder engagement, including local communities via the Cheptongei Community Forest Association, government agencies such as KWS, NEMA, WRA, and the Elgeyo Marakwet County Government, with funding from the Eldoret Iten Water Fund.

The plan aims to balance conservation and community development, employing a participatory framework that supports both forest protection and local livelihoods. Its vision is to establish Cheptongei as a well-conserved forest playing a vital role in the Cherangany water tower and beyond.