Community Voices and Conservation Take Center Stage in Loita Forest Training

Hakijamii, in partnership with WWF kenya and toPP, recently organized a three-day capacity-building workshop in Narok County for journalists, content creators, and Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs). 

The training focused on evidence-based reporting on biodiversity, climate change, and environmental governance, aiming to strengthen participants’ skills in accurate environmental journalism and improve understanding of community-led conservation.

On the third day of the workshop, participants visited Entasekera in Loita, Narok County, for field engagement with local residents. The visit allowed journalists and content creators to collect views from the community on biodiversity conservation and environmental governance while learning directly from local experiences.

During the engagement, the Senior Chief of Entasekera Location explained that the area has 18 villages, all located within Loita Forest. He noted that the community has protected the forest for generations, even before he was born, adding that the forest was much larger in the past and has long been cared for by Indigenous people.

The chief further explained that recent land demarcation gave community members individual land parcels. The land was divided into settlement and farming areas, while a section remained protected forest. Despite land ownership changes, the forest still belongs to the community, which continues to play a key role in its conservation.

He also noted that life in Loita has changed over time. Unlike in the past when farming was uncommon, many residents now grow crops such as maize and beans due to population growth and food demands. He added that local leaders, together with the Kenya Forest Service, are working to prevent forest destruction, although food shortages remain a challenge for some families.

By Alexander Kisioi  Environmental Activist and Freelance Journalist