The Kiamuriuki Forest block in Chuka, Tharaka Nithi County, is not only a vital source of livelihood for hundreds of thousands of people but also a source of pain for others.

Part of the expansive Mount Kenya Forest, which spans several counties including Meru and Nyeri, Kiamuriuki is a crucial water tower, providing essential water for agriculture and domestic use for generations.

In the past, the people of Chuka and surrounding areas treated the forest, with its ancient indigenous trees, as a sacred place. Elders would even hold traditional prayers deep within its foliage.