The warm rays of the sun pierce through the broad leaves of indigenous trees, igniting a cacophony of birdsong as they nest in the dense branches of mixed indigenous trees man made forest of Munglu Eco-Village. Located in Homa Bay County, South-Western Kenya, and just eight kilometers from Lake Victoria—the second largest freshwater lake in the world—this expansive eco-village serves as a beacon of sustainability, agroecology, and community-driven climate solutions.
Named after one of the endangered species in the area, the hedgehog (Munglu in the local Luo language), the Eco-Village is dedicated to promoting agroecology as a means of conserving nature, tackling climate change, and securing livelihoods. Through integrated sustainable organic farming, indigenous forestry, and ecotourism, Munglu Eco-Village offers innovative conservation practices that blend modern methods with traditional indigenous knowledge.
Climate Change Impact
Kenya is highly vulnerable to climate change, and the country is turning to agroecology—sustainable farming practices that work with nature—as a viable solution to ensure food security and biodiversity conservation. With only 6.1% of Kenya’s land under forest cover, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), initiatives like Munglu Eco Village are critical.
Globally there is a growing embracing of Eco-villages as a innovative way of grassroots communities to address the challenges brought about by climate change and safeguard livelihoods in line with the Paris-Agreement and the 2030 Agenda.
Going by the enthusiasm shown by Kenyans during this year’s Mazingira-Day in which people of all walks of life in all parts of the country turning up to plant trees, the country is collectively devoting efforts towards conservation of the environment.
Homa Bay County, where the Munglu Eco-village is situated, faces severe deforestation, diminishing biodiversity, and erratic weather patterns. Munglu Eco -Village thus showcases best practices for maximizing sustainable benefits for the riparian communities of Lake Victoria. It not only generates food, employment, and income but also provides safe water, conserves biodiversity, and preserves genetic resources.
Omondi Omollo, the visionary behind the project, shares his motivation: “I was witnessing rampant environmental destruction in my area, as documented by Google Maps photos over the years. The loss of vegetation also meant the disappearance of herbs and plants traditionally used for medicinal and ritual purposes,” he explains.
Founded by conservationist Brian Omondi Omollo, the village has grown from 11 to 100 acres, offering innovative approaches to environmental conservation and economic empowerment. With a focus on indigenous knowledge, organic farming, and eco-friendly practices, Munglu is a model for sustainable living and community resilience in the face of climate challenges.
A Slow Start
Brian Omondi, the conservationist in charge of Munglu Eco Village, recounts how the project began on 11 acres of land in 1999. Over time, the eco-village has grown to encompass over 100 acres of farms, pastureland, and dense indigenous forests, incrementally acquired from the community.
“We initially planted Grevillea and Eucalyptus trees, but soon realized that the exotic Eucalyptus was incompatible with the soil, attracting termites. We shifted to planting indigenous species instead,” Omondi recalls
Today, the eco-village focuses on natural regeneration and plants trees, particularly acacia, where natural regeneration is slow.
In addition to tree planting, they also cultivate coconut and Ashoka seedlings and encourage the community to grow herbs like sage, mint, and rosemary for both personal use and sale.
Milestones covered
Despite facing challenges in establishing a wildlife conservancy due to stringent conditions from the Kenya Wildlife Service, Munglu Eco -Village has evolved into an eco-resort. Visitors can stay in solar-powered cottages, gain environmental knowledge, and experience sustainable living firsthand. “We are an off-grid community, relying on solar energy and biogas for heating, lighting, and cooking,” Omondi emphasizes
Recycling is central to Munglu Eco-village’s operations. They harvest rainwater for year-round use, and wastewater is repurposed to irrigate farms. The Eco-Village also grows lemongrass, used for beverages, animal fodder, and essential oil production, which helps attract bees to colonize hives.
“Community elders share their knowledge over bonfires, teaching visitors about indigenous systems used to conserve the environment. These practices are quickly disappearing, but we’re preserving them through this exchange of values and ideas.”
Impact on the Community
Omondi explains that the project has not only enhanced climate change awareness in the community but also improved livelihoods. Initially, community members lacked knowledge about the role forests play in mitigating climate change and ecosystem management.
“They were focused on planting exotic trees for commercial purposes, without considering the environmental impact,” he says.
Nowadays, the community actively plants indigenous trees and fruit-bearing plants, with school children participating in activities like tree nursery preparation. “The children learn about environmental issues and organic farming while earning money to buy school supplies. We’re keeping them in school and instilling environmental knowledge in the next generation,” Omondi clarifies.
In addition to poverty alleviation initiatives, the Eco-Village trains community members in entrepreneurship and organic farming, helping them secure markets for their produce both at the Eco-Village and elsewhere. The Eco-Village employs locals as permanent staff and casual workers, providing them with a steady income that reduces the need for environmentally harmful activities.
Value addition to farm produce has also enabled community members to earn higher prices, and some serve as tour guides for the village’s extensive nature trails, which are lined with fruit trees like guavas, strawberries, grapes, mangoes, and more.
A common trend among the estimated 10,000 Eco-villages across the globe is their tendency to be islands of hope to a world that is increasingly losing its pristine zones courtesy of over-extraction of natural resources and urban sprawl while contributing to immense ecological benefits that spawn thriving communities.
In Their Own Words
Indeed as noted by Omondi, local community members testify to the positive impact of the Eco-Village. Emily Omwono, who operates the lemongrass oil extraction machine, shares her excitement: “I never knew lemongrass had so many uses beyond being a beverage in our community. Now, I’ve learned about its role in aromatherapy and perfumery.”
Isaac Onyuna who did internship at the village as part of his university studies echoes Omwono’s sentiment, noting that his work at the Eco-village provided him with valuable conservation knowledge that he applies to his own farming efforts.
“What I learned, I replicated at home, and it’s made a difference,” he says.
Celestine Akinyi, another community member, has gained skills in lemongrass cultivation and processing, allowing her to become self-reliant.
“Many young women lack conservation knowledge, even though they are heavily impacted by climate change. Planting trees, for instance, ensures the availability of firewood, reducing the burden of gathering fuel for cooking,” notes Akinyi
Innovative Approaches and Challenges
Munglu Eco Village avoids using herbicides and pesticides, opting instead for organic methods like rabbit urine to combat crop pests and lemongrass as a natural repellent. All roofs are equipped to harvest rainwater, and the village boasts both above ground and underground water tanks with a combined capacity of over 100,000 liters, ensuring a year-round water supply.
Challenges
Despite its success, Omollo acknowledges that the journey has not been easy. “Land is expensive, and conservation is a long-term investment. We also face infrastructure challenges, such as poor road conditions and being off-grid,” he reiterates. Additionally, the authorities have been slow in supporting the establishment of a wildlife sanctuary, despite the Eco-village meeting all the necessary approvals.
In general, Eco-Villages do encounter shortcomings such as conflicts and tensions that can affect their success and Munglu Eco-Village has not been exceptional to inherent challenges of establishing and running such a project. Omondi mentions that they had to employ high level of persuasion for some members of the community to comprehend the importance of the initiative in terms of benefits and voluntarily give way with compensation for its expansion.
“Many have recognized the importance of the initiative and are its leading supporters,” adds Omondi.
Indeed, experts cite difficulties in interpersonal relations, contradictions in values and worldviews, disagreements regarding social or infrastructural arrangements as some of the challenges that Eco-Villages face. Additionally, they struggle to maintain cohesion in the community as economic disparity between members increases alongside differences in interest, values, and worldviews.
Parting Shot
“We aim to become a hub for environmental education,” Omollo concludes. “Our focus is on educating children because they are the future of conservation. We want more visitors to come, enjoy the facility, and take home the knowledge they gain.”
Munglu Eco Village stands as out a shining example of how communities can embrace sustainability, conserve biodiversity, and mitigate the effects of climate change while improving livelihoods—a model for the future of ecological conservation in Kenya and beyond.
Adapted from KBC