Keyian Indigenous Afforestation Initiative

21/04/2026

I am proud to be a forester, and over the years I have drawn some of the most powerful life lessons from a tree.

A tree grows in two directions at the same time - upward and downward.

The part that grows upward is drawn to the light. Scientists call this phototropism. It is the visible part: the branches, the leaves, the flowers, and eventually the fruit. It is what people admire.

But at the same time, another part of the tree grows downward into the soil. This is gravitropism. It grows away from the light, into darkness, through damp soil and resistance. It pushes through stones and compact ground — unseen, uncelebrated, but absolutely essential.

Interestingly, this downward journey often begins first.

Before a tree can rise into the light, it must first learn to grow in the dark.

Yet when people admire a tree, they rarely speak about the roots.

Life is no different.

Many admire the phototropic side of your life — the visible success, the achievements, the leadership roles, the fruits. But very few see the gravitropic journey — the struggles, the quiet discipline, the resistance you pushed through, and the foundations built when no one was watching.

Nature reminds us of a simple truth:

The strength we see above the ground is sustained by the work done below it.

So when you admire someone’s fruits, remember — long before the branches reached the light, the roots were patiently growing in the dark.

Never admire the fruits without respecting the roots.

07/02/2026

The celebration on 2nd Feb 2026 at emaram village Oloontare location.
The Director Narok county, University registrar The Maasai mara university and mara sugar co. Ltd were present.

21/08/2025

When we talk about threatened tree species, it’s important to understand how conservation status is classified. These categories show how close a species is to extinction, starting from those that are safe to those already lost.

Least Concern (LC): These are species that are still widespread and stable. We highlighted Margaritaria discoidea as an example.

Near Threatened (NT): These species are not yet endangered, but they are getting close if threats continue. We showed Brachylaena huillensis.

Vulnerable (VU): Species in this category face a high risk of extinction in the wild. We featured three: Prunus africana, Afrocanthium keniense, and Khaya anthotheca.

Endangered (EN): These trees are at an even greater risk, with their populations declining rapidly. Examples include Vitex keniensis, Brucea macrocarpa, and Croton alienus.

Critically Endangered (CR): At this stage, species are extremely close to extinction in the wild, often surviving only in small, fragmented populations.

Extinct in the Wild (EW): These species exist only in cultivation, botanical gardens, or seed banks, but no longer in their natural habitats.

Extinct (EX): Once lost completely, no individuals remain anywhere.

From least concern to endangered, our landscapes hold species across these categories. This reminds us that conservation is not only about saving the rarest but also ensuring the common ones remain safe for future generations.

10/05/2024

🌳
Loquat
Scientific Names: Eriobotrya japonica

COMMON NAMES: English: Loquat;
Kamba: Kitunda/Kitula; Kikuyu: Minoria, Mbera, Mugati, Muburuti; Kisii: Ekeragwati; Luhya: Chinduli,Riparapandi,Emisabibi; Luo: Blanguet,Musabibu; Taita: Chikoti; Embu: Macuca

Eriobotrya japonica is an evergreen shrub/ small tree with a dense, rounded crown; it can grow 5 - 10 metres tall. It has a straight, low-branched bole up to 1 metre long

The fruits are popular in China and Japan, where the plant is often cultivated.
Now doing well in the Kenya highlands, 1,500-2,400 m. It is a common tree in Central and Western Provinces. Drought resistant once established, but prefers moderate to heavy rainfall.

CULTIVATION
While the loquat is commonly grown from seeds, commercial plantings are usually based on grafted trees of superior varieties. The tree is propagated by shield budding and cleft grafting; loquat seedlings or quince rootstocks grown from cuttings can be used, the latter if a dwarf tree is desired. They grow well on various soils, from sandy loams to clays, and come into bearing at three or four years of age. The trees are resistant to most diseases and insect pests, though the flowers are somewhat susceptible to fire blight.

USES
Loquats are delicious fruits that offer a variety of health benefits.

They’re low in calories but boast plenty of vitamins, minerals, and anti-inflammatory plant compounds.

Some research suggests that they may safeguard against certain conditions, such as heart disease and cancer, as well as reduce blood sugar, triglyceride, and insulin levels.

22/04/2024

02/02/2024

𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗪𝗲𝘁𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗗𝗮𝘆 (𝗪𝗲𝘁𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗛𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴)

𝗪𝗲𝘁𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗮𝘀 𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝘂𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘇𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀, 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀, 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗹 𝗳𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗲𝗿𝗼𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻.

29/12/2023

DO YOU KNOW BEES produces highly demanded and Medicinal products?

With less inputs in this venture, Beekeeping stands out as one of the best ventures for you a farmer who is practicing Agriculture.

Some of the bee 🐝 products are:

1. Honey- which sales btwn Kshs 500-1000/kg.
2. Bees wax .. Which sales btwn 700-1500/kg
3. Propolis - which attracts a wholesale price of Kshs 1200-2500/kg

All these products can be harvested three times a year.
Others like
1. Bee venom attracts awhooping amount btwn 4800-10,000 Agram
2. Royal jelly range from 30,000 to 45000 akilo
3. Bee pollen sells btwn 4500-8000
They can be harvested every afte 2-4 weeks depending with colony management
Beekeeping can as well be done along side your other agricultural activities like floriculture , poultry and animal keeping etc.

AND THE SWEETER PART IS;

Beekeeping requires little expertise, No inputs(supervision) nor much attention during the production stage.

12/12/2023

HAPPY 60th JAMUHURI DAY

With Moses Tukero

26/11/2023

08/11/2023

Monday 13th is a national Trees planting day, the goverment is aiming to meet its terget of plantin 15bilions trees by 2032. In support to that Keyian Indigenous Afforestation Initiative will lead the community of shaankoi primary school to creat awereness of Climate Change, Protecting indigeniuose species and Planting of trees.
We call apon friends and well wishers to patner and join us in this nobal activity.
You can dinate a tree by sending ksh 100 to 0790197698.
God bless you and see you on monday primary school ground at 9:30am.
Ambassadr Michael Oletuya
Moses Korio