Nairobi, Kenya – In a major boost to Kenya’s rural development and environmental conservation efforts, the government has signed a $126.8 million (KSh 16.4 billion) concessional loan agreement with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). The funding will support the rollout of the Integrated Natural Resources Management Programme (INReMP), a transformative initiative aimed at improving rural livelihoods while safeguarding vital natural ecosystems.

The agreement was announced on June 24 by Treasury Secretary John Mbadi, who described INReMP as a holistic and community-driven solution to the twin challenges of climate change and environmental degradation. The program will be implemented across ten counties in Western and Rift Valley Kenya, areas known for their ecological importance and high vulnerability to land degradation.

INReMP will focus on the sustainable management of forests, water resources, and agricultural land, while strengthening local institutions and supporting eco-friendly, income-generating activities such as agroforestry and climate-smart farming.

“The programme directly responds to the urgent need to combat environmental decline while empowering rural communities,” said Secretary Mbadi. He emphasized that the funding will contribute significantly to household income growth, ecosystem restoration, and climate resilience.

The loan’s terms are particularly favorable—featuring a low 1.41% interest rate, a 25-year repayment period, and a five-year grace window—making it one of the most accessible financing packages for sustainable development in recent years.

This funding also aligns with President William Ruto’s conservation agenda, which includes planting 15 billion treesand restoring millions of hectares of degraded land as part of Kenya’s climate action commitments.

With implementation set to begin soon, INReMP stands as a flagship project in Kenya’s push to balance environmental stewardship with rural economic transformation.