For decades, Nairobi’s Ngong Forest was often viewed as a distant public asset a vast green expanse that many residents only engaged with from the window of a car while driving on the Southern Bypass. For those living in the surrounding informal settlements of Kibera, Lang’ata, and Dagoretti, the forest was less a recreational sanctuary and more a source of security anxiety. However, through the I&M Foundation’s KES 162 million Project Imarisha Ngong Forest, the narrative has shifted from one of neglect to one of active “Restoration Economics.”
At the heart of this transformation is a bold micro-economic experiment: the conversion of environmental conservation into a direct tool for poverty alleviation. By the end of its first year, the project had successfully created 682 jobs tied directly to forest restoration activities. What makes this significant is not just the number, but the geography of the workforce. By intentionally hiring from the immediate neighborhoods of Dagoretti South, Kibera, and Lang’ata, the Foundation has effectively localized the economic benefits of climate action.
The work on the ground is physically demanding and technically specific. The 682 employees are not merely planting trees; they are the primary architects of a revitalized ecosystem. Their daily tasks involve the clearing of invasive species that have long choked the forest’s indigenous flora, the development of 35km of nature trails, and the rehabilitation of degraded forest patches. Within the first few months of the project, these teams had already rehabilitated three hectares of land, proving that a concentrated workforce can achieve rapid environmental results when provided with steady, dignified wages.
This model challenges the traditional top-down approach to conservation. By putting shovels and seedlings into the hands of local residents, the forest is no longer an abstract government resource; it has become a source of community income, pride, and responsibility. For many workers, this represented their first entry into the green economy, providing a stable income that supports households across some of Nairobi’s most densely populated areas.
The economics of Project Imarisha extend into the very infrastructure designed to protect the forest. The installation of electrified fencing and two new access gates (Southern Bypass and Kibera) serves a dual purpose. Environmentally, it secures the 695.3-hectare sanctuary from illegal logging and encroachment. Economically, it transforms the forest into a safe, marketable recreational space.
By de-risking the environment, the project paves the way for a sustainable ecotourism model. As the forest becomes a safe space for Nairobi residents, easing the overcrowding currently seen at Karura Forest, it creates secondary economic opportunities. The planned tree nursery, for instance, is conceptualized not just as a source of seedlings for the 15-billion-tree national goal, but as a revenue stream for the Ngong Community Forest Association (CFA). Local vendors, guides, and nursery managers are the next wave of beneficiaries in this emerging ecosystem.
Project Imarisha serves as a masterclass in “Shared Value” philanthropy. By allocating 2% of I&M Bank’s annual Profit Before Tax (PBT) to the Foundation, the project enjoys a level of funding predictability that allows for these long-term labor commitments.
