By: Jackson Bambo-Kenya Forests Working Group
The government of Kenya is in the process of preparing and formulating the REDD Readiness Preparation Proposal (R-PP) together with other Stakeholders among them being The Kenya Forests Working Group. R-PP is a document that shall guide the country on how best REDD project shall be run, The proposal requires a multi-stakeholder consultation and participation process to sensitize the various relevant stakeholders on REDD(Reducing Emission from Deforestation and degradation) and its concepts , solicit their views and understanding of REDD process and , capture their presumed expectations anticipated roles and responsibilities in the REDD+ process.
Kenya Forests Working Group shall be involved in the participation and consultation part of the process with other partners being Kenya Forest Service, Forest Action Network and Kanyinke Sena supporting the process.
During the consultation process the following stakeholders shall be involved; Civil Society Organizations, Community Forest Associations, Community Based Organizations, Women and Youth groups,Indigenous Peoples,Private sector including saw-millers and timber loggers, charcoal associations, agro-based industry including the tea, wheat, coffee industries, small scale farmers, Kenya Private Sector Alliance among others and Public institutions including research institutions, government institutions, and local authorities.
Two consultations will occur in Mau. One with Indigenous People the second workshop will target the other relevant stakeholders within the Mau cluster. Both of these consultations will be held in Nakuru another consultation will occur in the Central block that comprises Central Highlands, Eastern and Ewaso North conservancies.
In the Coast region one consultation will take place with the workshop being held in Mombasa. And a National validation workshop will be held in Nairobi after the regional workshops. Kenya forests Working Group and East Africa Wildlife society have been involved in the whole process since its inception.