By June Kimaiyo, knowledge coordinator, GLFx Nairobi
Growing up just outside the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, Laura Mukhwana marveled at the giraffes that roamed freely in the landscapes around her home.
“Today, the forest tells a different story.” Mukhwana says.
“The forest is now fragmented by railways, roads and looming threats. Yet, amidst this loss, I’ve witnessed the resilience of communities coming together to conserve and restore what they can. Faith-based institutions are key contributors to these efforts.”
Mukhwana, coordinator for the GLFx Nairobi chapter, is one of many in Kenya and around the world who recognize how faith-based organizations (FBOs) can propel communities into action to restore their landscapes.
In Kenya, faith lies at the heart of life for many, driving communities to come together in a shared mission to replenish our land and restore its vitality.
Now, faith and restoration are coming together in the Oloolua Forest, part of the Ngong Hills Forest Reserve on the outskirts of Nairobi.
The Oloolua Forest is a crucial habitat for diverse flora and fauna, including native tree species, rare bird populations and various mammals. It’s also deeply rooted in the cultural heritage of the community and serves as a site for spiritual practices, traditional ceremonies and recreation.
However, the forest faces numerous challenges driven by urban expansion, environmental degradation and socioeconomic pressures. These include population growth, infrastructure development, illegal waste dumping, encroachment, land grabbing, overgrazing, drought and unsustainable resource extraction.
Forest regulations are poorly enforced due to governance challenges such as inadequate staffing, allowing logging and poaching to proliferate.
In Kenya, over 97 percent of the population identifies with a faith. Christianity is the predominant religion, followed by Islam and a strong legacy of traditional African spirituality. These religious community hubs are vibrant, dynamic spaces brimming with life and purpose.
Picture a Sunday morning at a church: the rhythmic beats of drums echo in the air, blending with the melodic harmonies of choirs singing in Swahili, English and local languages like Kikuyu, Dholuo and Luyha.
The energy is palpable, with worshippers clapping, dancing and raising their hands in joyous praise. The pews are often filled with families, young people and elders gathering in shared devotion.
At mosques, the scene shifts to a serene yet equally powerful energy. Men and women gather for the adhan, the Muslim call to prayer, the poetic Arabic resonating across the community.
Rows of worshippers bow in unison, their movements a visual testament to unity and humility. The murmur of verses from the Quran recited in reverence fills the space.
On a traditional worship day for those practicing African spirituality, sacred groves come alive with rhythm and reverence. Worshippers, dressed in vibrant traditional attire, gather under ancient trees, where elders lead rituals with offerings of milk, honey and herbs.
Drums pulse steadily, accompanied by soulful songs in local dialects, while prayers to ancestors and spirits seek blessings for rain, harvests and protection.
The air hums with energy as dancing, clapping, and ululations fill the space, connecting the community to the land, their heritage, and a shared commitment to preserving the natural world.
In temples, you might hear the ringing of bells, the soft chanting of mantras and the aroma of incense wafting through the air. The atmosphere is meditative and spiritual, yet it also hums with activity as devotees gather to plan community service projects or celebrations.
These hubs are more than places of worship – they are centers of community action and hope. After the services, people spill into open spaces, forming lively groups to discuss shared goals.
This reflects how religious gatherings serve as great community spaces for dialogues about environmental goals and restoration work.
Historically, faith-based organizations have always had an influence on socio-political transformation in Kenya.
For instance, religious leaders were at the forefront of the country’s constitutional referendum in 2010. Catholic and Protestant leaders were instrumental in raising awareness and advocating for specific changes, such as the inclusion of devolution and women’s rights.
I’ve witnessed firsthand how religious gatherings have also contributed to environmental action. For instance, during a tree planting event organized by a local church, hundreds of people gathered with excitement, eager to contribute to the environmental cause.
The church leaders provided guidance on how people could work together to protect the environment, quoting scripture and connecting it to ecological responsibility.
Globally, over 84 percent of the world’s population adheres to some form of religion.
Faith-based organizations (FBOs) own eight percent of the world’s habitable land surface and five percent of all commercial forests.
Additionally, 10 percent of the world’s financial institutions and 14 percent of community development corporations are connected to faith-based entities.
Religious leaders wield considerable influence, enabling them to lobby governments worldwide to prioritize environmental agendas over political, economic and power interests. Their vast networks and broad reach are key platforms for raising awareness, especially in remote and insecure areas where government or development agencies might struggle to access.
There are many examples of faith supporting environmental restoration and stewardship. Zoroastrian teachings in ancient Persia emphasized the care of forests, land and animals, and people in Ghana’s Talensi Nadbam District preserved biodiversity in sacred groves despite widespread deforestation across the country.
In India, the EcoSikh initiative established 303 ‘Guru Nanak Sacred Micro Forests’ to promote biodiversity and climate resilience. Pope Francis’s Laudato Si’ letter inspired Catholic districts globally to plant trees to support climate action.
FBOs are advancing environmental restoration by building capacity among faith communities, promoting sustainable practices like faith-based agriculture and integrating ecological responsibility into religious teachings.
The Tree Growing Guide is one example of an educational resource to help faith communities incorporate environmental stewardship into their practices.
Places of worship are not only spaces for spiritual reflection but also hubs for community development, where initiatives such as tree planting, land rehabilitation, community cleanups and youth mentorship programs can be promoted.
During religious gatherings, congregations are often energized by the opportunity to contribute to protecting the environment, seeing it as a way to fulfill their deity’s wishes and align with the teachings of their faith.
The public’s reaction is one of deep enthusiasm, often accompanied by a sense of fulfillment, as they feel they are not just taking care of the land but also fulfilling a divine responsibility.
“The environment is undoubtedly facing degradation due to pollution, global warming and other factors,” says Florence Okeke, member of the Leaders Guild at Tangaza University.
“Insights from a faith perspective on environmental stewardship and our role as custodians are highly relevant. It is crucial to include faith institutions in these conversations as we are an integral part of the community.”
Faith-based groups within the Oloolua Forest landscape are increasingly contributing to restoration efforts by exploring ways to connect their spiritual teachings with practical environmental action.
Through a workshop held in November 2024, supported by GLFx Nairobi and WWF UK’s Beliefs and Values Programme, various faith-based groups came together to share their goals, exchange ideas and discuss strategies for restoration.
A key outcome of this initiative was the establishment of the Oloolua Forest Faith and Restoration Network, facilitated by GLFx Nairobi, which will continue to bring together faith actors to foster collaboration and share diverse perspectives on restoring the forest.
The network is guided by a steering committee, which is currently composed of 33 members with representatives from the Christian, Muslim and Baháʼí faiths.
“This network offers a unique platform to bridge spiritual values with practical action,” says Christopher Mureithi, a representative of the Oloolua Forest ecotourism user group.
“Learning to connect scripture with environmental stewardship and adopting practices like ‘Farming God’s Way’ highlights the powerful role faith can play in conservation.”
The network will serve as a platform to raise awareness about the significant role faith-based groups can play in restoration and unite them under a shared vision for the future of Oloolua Forest.
It will also be used to share knowledge about restoration and as a space for networking among faith actors in the landscape.
“As an advocate for environmental stewardship, I was grateful for the opportunity to connect with fellow faith leaders and gain a deeper understanding of eco-theology,” says James Lopusa Taban of the Laudato Si’ Movement Africa.
Faith-based actors are often overlooked in major climate discussions and have limited access to funding as some financial opportunities exclude faith-based projects.
The success of restoration activities can also be tricky to monitor as these actors often lack appropriate tools and methods. Long-term community engagement can be difficult to sustain, particularly when competing socioeconomic priorities arise.
Another hurdle is aligning objectives with external partners, as not all organizations share the same values or vision, which can lead to friction.
Lastly, many faith-based groups lack the technical expertise to ensure their restoration strategies follow scientifically informed best practices.
By joining faith-based resources, local community knowledge and scientific expertise, faith actors and environmental partners can strengthen restoration efforts and create more inclusive, holistic responses to the climate crisis and ecological degradation with shared moral values.
The Oloolua Forest restoration effort is more than an environmental project. It’s a community movement rooted in hope, faith and resilience.
As faith-based leaders mobilize their congregations, they’re not just planting trees – they’re planting seeds of awareness, care and action that will grow for generations.
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