Bankers in Unique Partnership to Restore 7.4 Hectares of Coastal Mangroves

The Kenya Bankers Association (KBA), through its Centre for Sustainable Finance and Enterprise Development (CSFED), has partnered with WWF-Kenya to restore 56,000 mangroves across seven hectares in Kilifi County to strengthen coastal climate resilience and promote nature-based solutions for climate adaptation.

Dubbed “Greening Kenya: Scaling Mangrove Restoration”, the initiative was held to commemorate the International Day for Biodiversity on 22nd May, 2026, and saw restoration activities undertaken in Mtwapa, Takaungu, and Kilifi Creek.

KBA Chief Executive Officer, Mr Raimond Molenje, underscored the importance of private sector leadership in environmental stewardship. “The banking industry recognises that climate resilience and environmental sustainability are integral to Kenya’s long-term economic prosperity,” Mr Molenje said. “Through this partnership, we are demonstrating how sustainable finance can support practical, community-driven nature-based solutions that protect ecosystems, strengthen livelihoods, and contribute to climate adaptation.”

WWF-Kenya Head of Partnerships and Communication, Ms Grace Waweru, on behalf of the CEO of WWF Kenya, said mangroves are critical ecosystems for biodiversity conservation, climate adaptation, and community resilience. “This partnership demonstrates the importance of collective action in restoring degraded ecosystems while creating economic opportunities for local communities and strengthening Kenya’s response to climate change,” said Ms Grace.

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Mangroves act as natural infrastructure, reducing wave energy and coastal erosion by up to 70%, while also supporting fisheries, biodiversity, and local livelihoods. The initiative is supported through a combined investment of Ksh3.48 million, with KBA contributing Ksh1 million and WWF-Kenya providing Ksh2.48 million through its Bengo Global Programme.

All mangrove seedlings for enrichment planting are sourced from the Mtwapa, Takaungu, Kilifi Community Forest Association (MTAKIMAU CFA), generating approximately Ksh2.7 million in direct income for community user groups and linking ecosystem restoration with inclusive local economic empowerment. Mangroves are among the world’s most effective natural climate solutions, with scientific evidence showing they can store three to four times more carbon per hectare than terrestrial tropical forests.

In addition, more than 75% of tropical fish species depend on mangroves at some stage of their life cycle. However, Kenya has lost an estimated 20% of its mangrove cover over the last four decades due to overharvesting, pollution, and coastal development. In Kilifi County, forest cover remains at about 5%. The initiative aligns with Kenya’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, the Kunming– Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, and the Government of Kenya’s 15 Billion Tree Growing Programme.

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