website: kaburo kobia
Restoration as a Shared Spiritual Calling
Opening prayers from Christian and Muslim leaders set the tone: caring for the earth is a duty rooted in scripture, culture, and tradition. Participants spoke of turning faith-owned land into demonstration sites, using sermons to shift mindsets, and empowering women and youth as agents of change.
Common themes emerged:
• Restoration as a moral imperative
• Livelihood-linked conservation like agroforestry and poultry keeping
• Interfaith unity in tackling deforestation and land degradation
• Preserving indigenous knowledge while embracing new tools
• Conflict-sensitive restoration in pastoralist regions
July 2025
From 27–29 July 2025, Nakuru became a meeting point for faith leaders, cultural custodians, and community restoration champions from across Kenya. The Faith-Based Land Restoration and Conservation Workshop, convened by OikoDiplomatique, brought together a diverse network committed to healing both land and livelihoods through the moral authority of faith.
This gathering built on a journey that began with the 2021 national land restoration conference and has since included interfaith dialogues in Nairobi, mangrove restoration in the Coast, and pastoralist-focused FMNR in the drylands.
Facing Barriers Head-On
The workshop did not shy away from hard truths—land tenure disputes, lack of technical skills, market barriers, climate shocks, and governance challenges all continue to limit progress. But these were met with practical solutions:
• Shifting from tree planting to tree growing for higher survival rates
• Linking restoration to livelihoods to ensure community buy-in
• Using faith networks to share stories, train leaders, and exchange ideas
• Aligning with County Climate Action Plans for funding and policy support
Nakuru Workshop Strengthens Kenya’s Faith-Based
Land Restoration Movement
Innovations in Action
Case studies inspired fresh thinking:
• Church Forests of Ethiopia as living classrooms for faith-led restoration
• Sunday School peacebuilding in East Pokot, now being linked to tree planting in children’s homes
• Youth mentoring in Nairobi on waste management and circular economy
• Clergy-led tree stewardship with children as caretakers
• Kikuyu “Zingira” tradition integrating cultural rites with long-term tree growing
Ms.Mariam Abdirashid contributing to the discussions at the workshop as Ms. Jane Jilani, Sister Cathy and Sister Rose listen in
Ms. Maryan Ntausian presenting to the group
A United Path Forward
By the final session, the message was clear: faith institutions are not side actors—they are central to Kenya’s restoration agenda. With land, influence, and deep trust, churches, mosques, and cultural institutions can lead the way in uniting communities for environmental justice, peace, and resilience.
As one participant put it, “When we heal the land together, we also heal our divisions.”
Download workshop report >> Faith-Based Land Restoration and Conservation in Kenya
Nakuru Workshop Report 27th – 29th July 2025 (PDF)