Celebrating Thomas Ole Kaichu | 29 Years at Mukutan Conservancy

On this day, 29 years ago, Thomas Ole Kaichu joined Mukutan Conservancy. Almost three decades later, he remains one of our longest-serving employees — a forester, a teacher, and a steady guardian of this landscape. For Thomas, conservation has never been just about protecting what is here today. It is also about passing on knowledge to the next generation: teaching young people to know trees by name, to understand forests, and to see the role they can play in caring for the land. If you have visited Mukutan before and gone out on a walking safari with Thomas, then you know exactly what we mean. His love for the land comes through in the way he speaks, the way he teaches, and the way he notices the smallest details around him. Thomas also played an important role in helping us establish our tree nursery, which can hold up to 20,000 seedlings — part of our continued efforts to ensure that forests are restored, protected, and carried forward for generations to come. We caught up with Thomas to hear more about his journey, his work, and what Mukutan has meant to him over the years. Here’s what he had to share. Part 2, where Thomas takes us through the tree nursery, will be posted soon. Thank you, Thomas, for all your work and dedication. ❤️ #MukutanConservancy #olarinyiro #thomasolekaichu #walkingsafarikenya #kenyaforestservice #mukutan