Kenya and Centum Foundation Launch Sh130m Drive to Boost Mt Kenya Adventure Tourism
Kenya's Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife and the Centum Foundation have signed a strategic partnership to raise Sh130 million ($1 million) over five years to develop Mount Kenya into a globally competitive adventure tourism destination. The Friends of Mount Kenya Initiative, hosted by the Centum Foundation, will direct investment towards upgrading tourism infrastructure, improving trail connectivity, sanitation and emergency response, and expanding economic opportunities for surrounding communities. The agreement was formalised by Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano, in collaboration with the Kenya Wildlife Service and the Kenya Tourism Board.
Mount Kenya - Africa's second-highest peak and a UNESCO World Heritage Site - currently attracts roughly 15,000 visitors annually, a fraction of comparable mountain destinations. Economic projections indicate that raising annual visitation to 100,000 could generate between Sh4.4 billion and Sh6.6 billion in tourism expenditure and support between 5,300 and 7,800 direct and indirect jobs. The initiative also leverages a planned 2027 Mount Everest expedition by Kenyan mountaineer and programme ambassador Martin Mumo to raise the mountain's global profile and attract strategic investment, as Kenya moves to diversify its tourism offering beyond traditional wildlife safaris.
Source: The Standard