Why KEFRI exists, and what the law says it must do
The Kenya Forestry Research Institute is a statutory corporation established to conduct forestry research in Kenya — generating the scientific knowledge base that underpins forest management, conservation, and the sustainable use of forest resources across the country.
KEFRI's mandate spans the full breadth of forestry science: tree improvement and silviculture, forest biodiversity and climate change, forest products and entrepreneurship, socio-economic policy and governance, and the research support infrastructure that makes this work possible. This breadth is intentional — Kenya's forest challenges rarely sit neatly within a single discipline.
Critically, KEFRI's mandate extends beyond research itself to technology transfer and dissemination — the legal recognition that scientific knowledge generates no value if it stays in laboratories and journals. This is why KEFRI operates training programmes, a digital platform, extension services, and direct technical assistance alongside its core research function.
The team leading KEFRI's institutional direction
KEFRI's executive leadership oversees the institute's five research programmes, six research centres, and the implementation of the 2022–2027 Strategic Plan.
Leads KEFRI's institutional strategy and represents the institute before government, development partners, and the KEFRI Board. Oversees implementation of the Strategic Plan 2022–2027.
Oversees KEFRI's five research programmes and the scientific quality of the institute's research output. Coordinates across the six research centres.
Manages KEFRI's institutional operations, finance, human resources, and infrastructure across the headquarters and six regional centres.
Leads the KEFRI Board's governance oversight, ensuring institutional accountability and alignment with Kenya's forest sector policy priorities.
Ninety years of Kenyan forestry science
From a single research station in 1934 to a national institute spanning six centres and five research programmes.
Forestry research begins at Muguga
East Africa's first systematic forest research programme is established under EAAFRO, founding the permanent research plots at Muguga that remain in continuous measurement today — over 90 years later.
Regional expansion and species trials
Research expands to Londiani and Maseno. Extensive species introduction trials establish the scientific basis for Kenya's plantation forestry industry, still in use today.
KEFRI established as a statutory corporation
KEFRI is formally established under the Science and Technology Act, giving Kenyan forestry research independent statutory status for the first time.
Dryland research and international networks
Kitui Centre established for dryland forestry research. KEFRI takes founding roles in NGARA, AFORNET, and FORNESA — regional forestry research networks spanning East and sub-Saharan Africa.
Mandate strengthened under national legislation
The Science, Technology and Innovation Act 2013 modernises KEFRI's statutory basis. The Forest Conservation and Management Act 2016 further consolidates the institute's national authority.
ISO certification and digital transformation
KEFRI achieves ISO 9001 and 14001 certification, launches KEFRIApp, and begins the platform transformation now bringing 90 years of research directly to Kenya's tree growers.
Six centres across Kenya's ecological zones
KEFRI's headquarters and five regional centres place field scientists within reach of every major Kenyan ecosystem.
National headquarters and largest research station, housing the natural history collections and the institute's longest-running experimental plots.
Learn moreKenya's primary coastal and mangrove research centre, adjacent to Arabuko-Sokoke Forest Reserve.
Learn moreKenya's dryland forestry research authority — home of the Melia volkensii domestication programme.
Learn moreLong-term plantation silviculture trial centre with records dating to the 1960s.
Learn moreAgroforestry research centre for western Kenya's sub-humid smallholder farming systems.
Learn moreHome of KEFRI's ISO 9001-certified laboratory and Kenya's Wood Properties Database.
Learn moreContact KEFRI
Off Nairobi-Naivasha Highway
P.O. Box 20412-00200, Nairobi, Kenya
Partnerships: partnerships@kefri.org
Training: training@kefri.org
gede@kefri.org
kitui@kefri.org
londiani@kefri.org
Thank you for contacting KEFRI. We aim to respond within 5 working days. For urgent matters, please call our headquarters directly.