The Minister for Finance, Hon. Amos Kimunya, EGH, MP, formally commissioned Phase Six of Rhino Ark’s Aberdare Fence this morning, at Njabini.

Phase Six, a section of 46.5 kms long was completed on August 25, 2006. Phase Six started at Gatamaiyu (South Aberdares) and has ended at the forest station adjoining the Chania River valley (West Aberdares) near the town of Njabini.

This brings the total fence line to 288km of the 388km long fence.

The first 26 kilometres of this Phase has been supported by several partners. They include the KEKIKA Community (Kereita, Kieni, Kamae) bordering the fence line, which provided labour worth ksh 2.7 million through clearing and construction. The European Union’s Biodiversity Conservation Programme (BCP) added a grant of ksh 13.5 million and Carbacid Co Ltd with ksh 1.2 million for fence material. Carbacid have pledged another ksh 1.3 million for a fence attendance quarter and energiser house in this KEKIKA section.

Total cost for the whole Phase was kshs 69 million. This figure is made up of materials, manpower, vehicles and transport.

The KEKIKA community was awarded the East African Wildlife Society’s Michael Werikhe Perpetual Trophy for services to conservation. This award is nominated by Rhino Ark’s Rhino Charge committee.

At the ceremony today, guests included representatives of the European Union, the East African Wildlife Society, Safaricom Foundation, Kengen and major donor organisations.

The fence line in Phase Six encloses the Sasumua Dam, seriously damaged in a flash flood during the El-Nino season and awaiting re-investment to return to its full capacity as one of Nairobi’s major water supply.   

Forest Department provided wire worth ksh 9.16 million for Rhino Ark’s Aberdare Fence construction programme in August, 2006. This wire will be used in constructing Phase Seven for which work is scheduled to start this month, and scheduled for completion in September 2007. This phase is 40kms long and will connect with Phase Six at Njabini.

The 50.8sq km Mt. Kipipiri will now also be fenced. Total distance is 50 kms. Mt. Kipipiri will be linked by a 2-4km wide elephant corridor to the main Aberdares. This will now extend the total distance of the Aberdare fence to approximately 388kms.Originally under the Environmental Impact Assessment for the fence prepared in 1999, the expected overall distance of the Aberdare fence was 350kms.

The fence will follow the Forest Department boundary around Mt. Kipipiri.   The area has been subjected to illegal encroachments which will be fenced in so that they revert to indigenous.

Mount Kipipiri’s forests have been severely damaged by illegal logging. The placement of the fence will secure this vital watershed – a major environmental achievement for KWS, Forest Department and Rhino Ark. It has been noted that a resident herd of 30-50 elephant permanently inhabits the Kipipiri forests whilst transient family herds move throughout this area. Human – Elephant conflict remains a serious problem in this area.

Phase eight north of Mt Kipipiri is scheduled for construction next year. This section is entirely different from any other area of the Aberdares. It is dominated by over 15 kms of very steep and sheer escarpments. It contains many small rivers that form tributaries to make up the sizeable Turasha (fed mainly from Mt Kipipiri) and Malewa Rivers, which eventually form a single flow into Lake Naivasha

10.5 kms will be fenced from Geta to the Chitoni River after which the sheer Satima escarpment provides a natural boundary against human / wildlife conflict.

Rhino Ark is now using plastic posts to build the fence. The posts are cheaper, more environmentally suitable and last longer than wooden posts.

Rhino Ark is committed to a policy of fence maintenance. 20% of the net funds raised from the annual Rhino Charge are for maintenance. When complete, the Rhino Ark fence will protect the Aberdare mountain ecosystem for the millions of Kenyans who are dependant on it.

Issued by Rhino Ark Charitable Trust

For more information, please contact
Elizabeth Museo on 0724-604233 /(02) 604246/(02) 609866

E-mail: rhinoark@wananchi.com OR
John Thuo of Church Orr Associates at 0733320517
E-Mail: coa@africaonline.com