NCBA Joins Boreka Initiative at Kamwaki Estate to Drive Ecosystem Restoration on World Environment Day

NCBA Group joined forces with the Boreka Initiative, local farmers, sustainability stakeholders, and surrounding communities at Kamwaki Estate in Kiambu County in a coordinated effort aimed at advancing ecosystem restoration through indigenous tree growing and agroforestry solutions.

The engagement was part of a broader sustainability agenda by NCBA Group, reflecting a long-term commitment to generating environmental and social value through strategic partnerships, sustainable finance, and community-driven action.

At the heart of the initiative is the recognition that sustainable development cannot be achieved in isolation. Businesses, communities, and conservation partners are increasingly working together to restore ecosystems while also improving economic opportunities for those directly dependent on natural resources. The Kamwaki Estate engagement embodies this philosophy, demonstrating how environmental restoration can be integrated into productive agricultural systems to deliver long-term benefits for both people and the planet.

Financial institutions are also playing a growing role in this transformation. Through targeted investments and green financing solutions, banks are helping scale initiatives that deliver measurable environmental and social outcomes. NCBA Group continues to position itself within this space, supporting projects that align financial performance with sustainability impact and long-term resilience.

Sustainability Embedded in Action

The World Environment Day engagement highlighted NCBA’s broader positioning as a sustainability-conscious institution that integrates environmental responsibility into its core operations. It also reinforces its role as a leader in ESG-driven banking, actively supporting sustainable development not only through financing but also through on-the-ground action.

The Group continues to invest in ecosystem restoration, climate resilience initiatives, and green financing programmes that aim to generate tangible, verifiable outcomes. Central to this approach is the belief that sustainability must move beyond commitments and translate into measurable progress that benefits communities and ecosystems alike.

NCBA’s Sustainability Journey

Since launching its 15 Sustainability Commitments in 2023, NCBA Group has recorded notable progress across key environmental and social impact areas. To date, the Group has supported the planting of more than 1.4 million trees, mobilised KES 9.5 billion in green and sustainable financing, achieved an annual waste recycling rate of 83.59%, and established six electric vehicle charging stations across Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda.

Beyond environmental milestones, these efforts have had a far-reaching social impact, positively affecting more than 1.4 million livelihoods through various sustainability and community programmes. Collectively, these initiatives form part of NCBA’s long-term ambition to grow 10 million trees by 2030 while advancing broader environmental and economic sustainability goals across the region.

Strengthening the NCBA–Boreka Partnership

The collaboration between NCBA Group and Boreka Initiative, established in 2023, is grounded in a shared vision of ecosystem restoration alongside community empowerment. Since its inception, the partnership has facilitated the planting of 340,000 trees across 35 indigenous species, directly engaged 642 farmers, and trained over 1,000 farmers in sustainable agroforestry practices.

In addition, the programme has supported the creation of 400 green jobs, contributing to improved livelihoods and economic inclusion within participating communities. Collectively, these interventions have positively impacted more than 10,000 people, including farming households, workers, suppliers, and residents in surrounding areas.

In 2026 alone, NCBA committed to planting an additional 100,000 trees through the partnership, with 40,185 already planted as of 31 May 2026, reflecting steady progress toward its restoration targets.

Measurable Environmental Outcomes

A key feature of the programme is its emphasis on long-term ecological impact rather than short-term activity. The initiative currently records a seedling survival rate of approximately 75%, underscoring a strong focus on nurturing planted trees to maturity.

Based on observed growth patterns, trees planted under the partnership have already sequestered an estimated 5,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent since 2023. Over a projected lifespan of 20 years, these trees are expected to remove more than 765,000 tonnes of CO₂ from the atmosphere, highlighting the critical role of nature-based solutions in addressing climate change.

Kamwaki Estate as a Model Landscape

Situated in Kiambu County, one of Kenya’s most prominent coffee-growing regions, Kamwaki Estate provides a fitting backdrop for this year’s World Environment Day engagement. The estate offers a practical example of how sustainable agriculture, biodiversity conservation, and ecosystem restoration can coexist within productive farming landscapes.

Its coffee production system demonstrates the principles of agroforestry, where trees, crops, and soil health are managed in an integrated manner to enhance productivity while safeguarding ecosystems. This approach reinforces the link between environmental health and agricultural resilience, showing how restored ecosystems can directly support improved livelihoods and sustainable economic activity.

As a result, Kamwaki Estate represents more than just a venue for the event. It stands as a living model of the kind of integrated environmental and economic systems that are increasingly central to sustainable development efforts across the region.

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