GBM Blog

King Muru, is a 200 year old Meru Oak (Vitex kiniensis) tree located in Lower Imenti forest in Meru city, about five miles north of the equator in central Kenya. The huge King Muru tree is symbolic of the Green Belt Movement’s (GBM) efforts towards biodiversity conservation in the Mount Kenya region - one of Kenya’s main watersheds.

Over the last 12 years, GBM has been sensitizing and mobilizing the community within the Mount Kenya region towards environmental conservation. The community has been empowered and inspired to undertake a salient role in the protection, rehabilitation and preservation of the forest, which is a crucial part of the Mount Kenya ecosystem. Due to the community’s conservation efforts, the forest continues to prosper and, as a result, they continue to enjoy the many benefits that the forest brings, including economic, cultural and spiritual rewards, increased biodiversity, and a regular, clean water supply.

Today, the awesome King Muru tree attracts a huge number of visitors. There’s a large tunnel that goes through the tree trunk and a 3-metre radius doorway; over 20 adults can sit comfortably inside the tree. GBM members recently visited this amazing site and took photos of this huge success story of tree preservation shown here. Long may the King Muru tree reign!

This blog was written by Wycliffe Matika and Edwin Ngunjiri, two members of GBM staff.