I&M Foundation has committed an additional KES 2 million to support fence management and ranger welfare at Ngong Sanctuary Forest in Nairobi, as part of its Project Imarisha initiative, the foundation said in a press release dated April 2, 2026.
According to the statement, the funding will facilitate the purchase of 14 scout uniforms and provide one year of salary support for the sanctuary’s rangers, a move the foundation said will strengthen protection of the forest and its biodiversity.
The announcement was made during a handover ceremony held under Project Imarisha, an I&M Foundation programme focused on environmental sustainability, education and community upliftment. The Ngong Sanctuary Forest initiative is among a growing number of private-sector backed conservation projects in Kenya that blend ecological restoration with community-based stewardship models.
In the release, Dipna Shah, Sustainability Lead at I&M Foundation, said the support is intended to ensure continuity as the project reaches a final handover milestone.
“As we reach this final handover milestone, our focus is on ensuring sufficient, sustained support to help this forest transition successfully into its next chapter. While infrastructure and fences are important, the true heartbeat of this forest is its people. By providing uniforms and salary support, we are ensuring that these scouts can perform their duties with dignity and security, laying a strong foundation for the long-term stewardship of this sanctuary,” Shah said.
The foundation said Project Imarisha has, to date, supported the installation of 14.2 kilometres of fencing at the sanctuary, including five kilometres of electrified perimeter fencing, as well as the development of 35 kilometres of nature trails. It also cited support for construction of rangers’ housing and an ablution block.
“Through Project Imarisha, we are committed to safeguarding Kenya’s natural heritage while empowering the communities that protect it. Our support to Ngong Sanctuary Forest reflects our belief that conservation and community well-being go hand in hand,” Shah added.
The statement said the 14 scouts are largely drawn from surrounding communities and serve as frontline personnel responsible for biodiversity protection and visitor safety. The latest support, it added, is designed to help the sanctuary shift from a restoration phase to a long-term maintenance and stewardship phase.
For Kenya’s business landscape, the project underscores how financial institutions and corporate foundations are increasingly deploying social investment programmes into conservation-linked infrastructure and jobs—an area with potential spillovers into domestic tourism, local enterprise activity around forest-based recreation, and climate resilience outcomes. Ngong Sanctuary Forest sits within the Nairobi metropolitan area, where demand for accessible green spaces has risen alongside urbanisation.
Looking ahead, I&M Foundation said Project Imarisha is concluding its primary infrastructure phase, with the sanctuary expected to focus on ongoing maintenance, conservation, environmental education and nature-based recreation. The foundation did not provide additional timelines or budget details beyond the KES 2 million contribution.
In the release, I&M Foundation said it is funded through an annual endowment from I&M Bank Kenya equivalent to 2% of the bank’s profit before tax, and it delivers social investment programmes across four thematic areas.