Kenya is seeking to raise US$1 million through a five-year partnership to improve visitor facilities, strengthen mountain rescue services and support conservation on Mount Kenya.
Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano announced the partnership between her ministry and the Centum Foundation under the Friends of Mount Kenya Initiative, bringing together the Kenya Wildlife Service, private sector players and community partners.
The programme aims to strengthen the mountain’s position as an adventure tourism destination while expanding economic opportunities for communities around it.
The US$1 million is a fundraising target. Miano’s announcement did not specify how much has already been secured or provide a breakdown of spending across the proposed activities.
Better facilities and mountain safety
Visitor facilities and mountain safety are among the initiative’s priorities, alongside rescue capabilities and conservation.
These are practical parts of the climbing experience: attracting visitors requires both promoting the destination and providing the services that support their time on the mountain.
Mount Kenya rises to 5,199 metres, making it Africa’s second-highest mountain. KWS identifies Naro Moru, Sirimon and Chogoria as its three official entry gates, offering access to landscapes ranging from forest to high-altitude moorland and rocky summits.
Its appeal also extends across different levels of mountaineering. Batian and Nelion, its highest peaks, require technical climbing, while Point Lenana offers a trekking objective below the main summits. The American Alpine Club describes the mountain as a destination for experienced climbers from around the world.
An Everest expedition with a Mount Kenya mission
The initiative will also draw on Kenyan mountaineer Martin Mumo’s planned Mount Everest expedition in 2027 to promote the country’s mountaineering attractions internationally.
The CS identified Mumo as the programme’s ambassador, saying the expedition would provide a platform to showcase Kenya’s potential as a climbing destination.
That gives the programme a promotional opportunity beyond the mountain itself, linking a Kenyan expedition to the world’s highest peak with efforts to attract attention to climbing at home.
The announcement did not detail how the Everest campaign would be connected to fundraising or visitor bookings.
A mountain that supports more than tourism
CS Miano said Mount Kenya supports water security, energy, agriculture and the livelihoods of more than seven million people.
That wider role places conservation at the centre of the initiative. Protecting the mountain serves people who depend on its ecosystem, as well as those who visit it.
Mount Kenya National Park and its surrounding natural forest were inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 1997. UNESCO recognises the site for its striking landscapes and the ecological processes represented by its vegetation, which changes with altitude and rainfall.
For surrounding communities, the programme’s economic promise lies in opportunities associated with guiding, porter services, accommodation, transport and other visitor spending. However, the announcement did not set out specific employment targets or explain how community projects would be selected.
The partnership establishes a framework for combining tourism investment with conservation. Its progress will become clearer as the partners disclose funding commitments, identify the first upgrades and outline how local communities will participate.
