On Friday, 3 October, a meeting was held at the headquarters of Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI) to discuss how the recently signed National Prosopis Strategy can be integrated into County Integrated Development Plans (CIDPs).

The 5-year CIDPs for 2023-2027 are currently in their final stage of negotiations; thus, during a visit of the representatives of the Woody Weeds + team at the Director KEFRI’s office in early February it was decided to invite County Government Ministers responsible of the Environment docket to the KEFRI headquarters to discuss how the management of the invasive tree Prosopis juliflora can be mainstreamed into the CIDP and the related budgetary processes. The meeting turned out to be a high-profile meeting, as it was also graced by the Hon. Soipan Tuya, Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Forestry. The Woody Weeds + team was represented by Simon Choge, KEFRI, Florence Chege, CABI, and Dr Boniface Kiteme, CETRAD.

After the presentation of the National Prosopis Strategy, which was – among others – built on the results generated in the Woody Weeds project and to which several members of the Woody Weeds team had contributed, Dr Kiteme presented the ongoing activities in the Woody Weeds + project, in which we support Kenyan institutions in piloting the implementation of the NPS in Baringo, Isiolo and Tana River County.

In her speech, Hon. Soipan Tuya said that the government has prioritized the management of Prosopis. The CS confirmed that proven technologies and practices to effectively manage and control Prosopis in Kenya will be scaled up and also piloted in the other most affected counties including Taita Taveta, Kajiado, Marsabit, and Turkana.