WORLD BAMBOO DAY 2026: KENYA MOVES FROM POTENTIAL TO PRODUCTION
Environment, Climate Change and Forestry Cabinet Secretary Dr. Deborah M. Barasa presided over the inaugural National Bamboo Expo at Meru University of Science and Technology (MUST), bringing together stakeholders to showcase bamboo innovations, technologies and products and explore opportunities for climate action, economic growth and community empowerment.
Hosted by MUST under the leadership of Vice Chancellor Prof. Romanus Odhiambo, the three-day Expo was held under the theme “Sustainable Bamboo for Climate Action, Economic Growth and Community Empowerment.” It provided a platform for stakeholders to examine the role of bamboo in landscape restoration, climate action, value addition, enterprise development and improved livelihoods.
The Expo featured Keynote, Policy and Investment sessions focusing on global bamboo market trends and Kenya’s positioning, opportunities to accelerate the country’s bamboo economy, carbon cooperation and investment, and financing options for Africa’s bamboo economy. The sessions brought together experts and sector stakeholders to discuss approaches for strengthening the development and commercialization of Kenya’s bamboo sector.
The Cs said Kenya has all it takes to become Africa’s center for bamboo innovation, processing and enterprise. Kenya currently having approximately 130,000 hectares of natural bamboo forests, predominantly indigenous highland bamboo, alongside increasing cultivation on private lands. The resource being anchored by a strong policy framework, the National Bamboo Policy 2022 and the National Bamboo Development Strategy and Action Plan 2025-2035. Under the Strategy, the Government has set an ambitious target to establish an additional 150,000 hectares of bamboo across the country. The strategy goes beyond increasing acreage by promoting the development of a complete and commercially viable bamboo value chain covering quality planting materials, production, aggregation, processing, manufacturing, markets and enterprise development.
The inaugural Expo provided an opportunity to showcase bamboo based products, technologies and innovations while creating linkages among farmers, researchers, investors, processors, entrepreneurs and markets. The engagement also highlighted opportunities for value addition and increased participation of communities and private sector actors across the bamboo value chain.
The National Bamboo Expo therefore created an important platform for strengthening collaboration among government institutions, research organizations, universities, farmers, investors, innovators and development partners in advancing the sustainable development of Kenya’s bamboo sector and its contribution to the country’s green economic transformation.
The CS was joined by senior Ministry officials led by Administration Secretary Mr. Patrick Meso, who represented the Forestry Principal Secretary, Director of the 15 Billion Trees Secretariat Mr. Felix Kisalu, Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI) CEO Dr. Jane Njuguna, Deputy Governor of Meru County Linda Gakii Kiome, as well as government officials, researchers, farmers, innovators, private sector players and development partners.