Saving Kenya's Mutarakwa: The Endangered African Pencil Cedar (Juniperus procera)
BeyondForest- Jun 1, 2024
- 10 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
Image of Juniperus Procera Seeds collected In Naromoru
By the end of this section you will have learnt
1.)Juniperus Procera Gin
4.)Different types of Juniperus
5.)Juniperus procera forest in Kenya
6.)Juniperus procera fruits
8.)FAQ About Juniperus Procera
Your great grandkids might never use it, if caught with this Red Cedar Tree, you are taken direct to prison as its critically endangered and no license in milling it -James Ngure
Image of a Mutarakwa tree at the base of Mount Kenya
The Juniperus Procera trees are cone bearing evergreen (coniferous) tree native to mountainous areas in Africa such as Kenya and Ethiopia where it is widely spread .
Image of a Juniperus Procera at Garden Estate ,Nairobi
The Juniperus Procera tree has a trunk up to 1.5–2 m 5–6+1⁄2 feet in diameter and a broadly conical to rounded or irregular crown. The cedar trees are widely known for its wonderful aroma and insect repelling quality. The Juniperus procera is a soft wood tree and very brittle with a maturity of 70- 100 years thus endangered species
Image of a juniperus procera tree
They have a light colored spicy scented wood. The Juniperus Procera is very special tree for its use and a very exploited trees that makes it illegal logging it due to over exploitation thus making almost extinct .
When you plant the Juniperus Procera your grand children will forever be grateful because you will not have the chance to harvest it yourself since it takes ages
Red Cedar trees can grow to heights of over 120 feet while some species grow to 180 feet's. The juniperus Procera is native to the following countries around the world Saudi Arabia ,Yemen (Arabian peninsula) DRC congo, Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia ,Kenya,Malawi,Mozambique ,Somalia ,Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda ,Zambia and Zimbambwe .
Red Cedar Trees harvested when fully matured are very very great at fencing, there are fences I've seen in my locality, over 30 years without any replacement.and also not eaten by insects and can even survive in marshy areas.
Background House Built with Juniperus Procera
Above is a photo of My grandfather ,his wife,their son and My grandfather's mother .Behind them is a Juniperus procera house which has been made with entirely the Mutarakwa Tree from the roofing which used juniperus procera barks to thewall of the house which has used Juniperus procera offcuts
My Grandfather Simon Wagura owned two power saws and the picture being around 1990's it can be clearly stated that his power saw logged mostly Juniperus procera Tree around Mount Kenya . While the juniperus procera tree cannot be seen in Naromoru town since it was exploited much however after studying, watching and reading about the Juniperus procera without actually having seen the tree
Cedar grows at a very slow rate, unlike cypress
A juniperus procera tree with a cone shape top ,almost 20 plus year old
I got the chance to see numerous Junipers procera trees in Nanyuki
Juniperus procera gin is a uniquely Kenyan craft gin that draws its distinctive flavor from the indigenous East African Juniper tree (Juniperus procera), which grows abundantly in the highlands of Kenya.
Image of a Juniperus Procera Gin
Unlike the common Juniperus communis used in most gins globally, Juniperus procera is a taller, wild juniper species that thrives at high altitudes and imparts a more earthy, aromatic, and woody profile to the spirit.
Image of hands working on Juniperus Procera Berries
Procera gin have three distinct brands the green dot,the blue dot and the red dot . With the procera Green dot 2023 which uses only Juniper berries, Juniper wood and the Juniperus tree foliage from majestic Mutarakwa trees located in high altitudes of Narok . The Procera gin also offers custom engraved personalized bottles from Kenyan customers .
🔹 Procera Blue Dot (700ml)
This is the flagship expression, celebrated for its earthy juniper notes and citrusy undertones.
Liquor Shack | KSh 9,500 |
The Wine Box | KSh 9,975 |
Mbuzi Wines | KSh 9,760 |
Oaks & Corks | KSh 10,669 |
Nairobi Drinks | KSh 14,999 |
🟢 Procera Green Dot (700ml)
This variant emphasizes the juniper tree's foliage and wood, offering a more vegetal and earthy profile
Vintage Liquor Kenya | KSh 17,250 |
Oaks & Corks | KSh 18,749 |
The Wine Box | KSh 18,900 |
🔴 Procera Red Dot (700ml)
Known for its bold and spicy character, this variant is crafted with a unique blend of botanicals.
Oaks & Corks | KSh 15,279 |
This tree forms the backbone of gins like Procera Gin, which has gained international acclaim for being one of the first gins to use fresh, African juniper berries instead of dried ones. Procera Gin is distilled in Nairobi using locally sourced botanicals, including Swahili lime, pink peppercorn, cardamom, and other African spices, giving it a rich, terroir-driven flavor that reflects Kenya's biodiversity.
Image of a crate filled by Juniperus Procera Seeds
Packaged in hand-blown glass bottles made by Kenyan artisans, Juniperus procera gin is not just a spirit—it’s a celebration of Kenyan craftsmanship, nature, and innovation. The gin is typically small-batch, premium-priced, and popular among connoisseurs who appreciate authenticity, sustainability, and flavor complexity.
Juniperus procera gin stands as a symbol of Africa’s growing presence in the global craft spirits scene.
"For generations, the towering Juniperus Procera trees in Kenya were used for lumber, leaving their unique and flavourful berries untouched or discarded. We recognized the true worth of these indigenous trees. By championing the use of their overlooked berries, we are not just making the world’s most innovative gin, we are creating a new life for these trees, preserving their majesty and fighting deforestation." -Procera Gin
The Juniperus procera seeds are used as spice due to their aromatic scent and flavor. The Juniperus procera seeds can be harvested ,then dried inorder to be crushed . The seeds can also be propagated for the next generation.
The juniperus procera Tree is resistant to termites thus was widely used in traditional days in making poles to mark land so as to avoid disputes that really amount in various communities
The juniperus procera wood cracks easily while building thus the tree offcuts are used in building houses while the barks are used to roof the house .As the Procera Tree gets older the Tree gets hollow thus used in apiculture (rearing of bees)
The juniperus procera leaves are very bitter although when crushed they produce a very wonderful scent the leaves can mostly be used as Mulch
The Juniperus Procera is even more exploited due to its wood which makes a very good source of fire as the wood is long lasting and burns for more hours producing intense heat
Image of a 25 year old Red Cedar Tree by Governor Maiko on Facebook
The Juniperus Procera has a very wide array of names .In Kikuyu the Juniperus procera is known as Mutarakwa .The Juniperus procera is also known as the Red cedar ,The African pencil cedar or the Kenyan Cedar or the Juniper .In Kipsigis Language it is referred to as Torokwet Tree. In maasai language it is referred to as Oltarakuai Tree. In Kisii language it is referred to as etorokwo Tree or Omoringamu Tree . In Pokot language it is referred to as Torokwo tree. In samburu language it is referred to as Ntarakui. In Marakwet language it is referred to as Septet Tree
1.)Juniperus Osteosperma
2.)Juniperus scopulorum
3.)Juniperus horizontalis
4.)Juniperus phoenicea
5.)Juniperus Flaccida
6.)Juniperus occidentalis
7.)Juniperus californica
8.)Juniperus monosperma
9.)Juniperus standleyi
10.)Juniperus communis
Cedar is one of the few indigenous softwoods in Kenya. It is an endangered species -Muya
Kinale forest is found in Kiambu County where 2,500 Juniperus procera (Cedar) seedlings have been planted by Kijabe Forest Trust-KFT (NGO), members of the newly formed Kinale Community Forest Association, and Eden Reforestation Projects (ERP; an International Reforestation Organization that has so far planted 300 million trees globally).purely for conservation purposes as part of the on-going national tree planting campaigns by Kenya Forest Service. The forest has over 470,000 Indegenous trees mostly Red cedar
Image of an African Red cedar tree standing tall in Kirisia forest, Samburu
Kirisia Forest is found in Samburu county .Kirisia forest is one of the largest unfragmented forests in the country and covers a whopping 91,944 Ha consisting mainly of indigenous forests dominated by Cedar (Juniperus procera) Podo (Podocarpus falcatus) and other dry high forest species. The entire forest is managed for conservation objectives and it has great environmental, cultural and security significance to the Samburu community.
The Ngumbi Uplands forest station, situated along the Mai Mahiu Nairobi highway is one of the strategic installations for KFS in the conservation, protection, and preservation of the vast natural forest with cedar (Juniperus procera) as the dominant tree species situated along the escarpment. Ngubi Forest area is approximately 1950 hectares. The beat lies within the Kikuyu Escarpment. The area's vegetation is majorly indigenous species with about 100 hectares of cedar while the rest is a natural forest of mixed species and bushland.
Kiptunga Forest Station is one of the Fourteen (14) Forest Stations in Nakuru County. Its a Gazetted Forest with a unique Ecological system which forms part of the Eastern Mau Forest within the larger Mau Forest Complex.
It is both an Indigenous and Plantation forest, a water catchment, a rich biodiversity habitat and a precious resource that provides invaluable benefits to people and wildlife.
Kiptunga Forest station covers a total area of 10,363.2 hectares. Altitude ranges from 2400m to 2865m above the sea level.
Kiptunga Forest is significant as it forms an important catchment for Enapuiyapui Swamp which covers an area of 160.6 ha and the main source of River Mara.
The Forest has a rich biodiversity of wildlife species which include Colombus monkey, Dikdik, Hare, Warthogs, Porcupine and Bushbucks as well as several types of birds, insects and reptiles.
The rich Flora in the forest include indigenous tree species such as Juniperus procera,Prunus africana, Podocarpus spp, Olea spp, Croton, Polyscias among other species.
Kimakia Forest is Located in Gatanga sub county in Muranga County.Set in the Southern Aberdares forest. and on the border of Kiambu ,Gatundu ,The Kamakia forest is full of indigenous trees like the Juniperus procera(mutarakwa).To access Kimakia Forest you drive through the tea fields of Gatura and Kiarutara.The begining of the hike starts at an old fishing camp and leading to a giant Mugumo tree. From there, multiple river crossings you do cross the beautiful Chania River .The hiking distance through Kamakia Forest is about 15km this is a moderate hike and one has to have had hiking experience.Other common trails along Kamakia forest are Mataara Hike & Gacako Waterfalls
Geta Forest is Located in Nyandarua County .Inside Geta Forest there is The Geta Forest Station tree nursery, sponsored by the Darwin Initiative, has successfully cultivated a diverse range of tree species. These include Juniperus procera, Olea africana, Warburgia ugandensis, Dombeya torrida, Hagenia abyssinica, Nuxia congesta, Rapanea spp, and bamboo preparations. The nursery has raised over 30,000 seedlings of indigenous trees.
Nabkoi Forest also known as the Ainabkoi Forest is found in Malava Lugari in Uasin Gishu County .The Nabkoi Community Forest Association has planted 10,384 assorted tree seedlings mainly the Cupressus lusitanica(mexican cypress), Juniperus procera (mutarakwa), Prunus Africana, Podocarpus gracilior) at Nabkoi Forest Station (Buret 1K & 10A subcompartments) in Uasin Gishu County. A Total of 28 Ha has been rehabilitated.13,000 tree seedlings have also been planted on 8 Ha of Nabkoi Forest Station on Buret 4(A) Sub compartment
The Eburu forest is a 8,715.3 hectares indigenous forest located in Eburu Mbaruk ward, Gilgil Sub-county,Naivasha,Nakuru county The Forest Eburu . is sandwiched in between Lake elementaita ,Lake Naivasha and Lake Nakuru. The Forest Eburu is mainly made up of indigenous trees such as the Prunus africana and the juniperus procera(mutarakwa)
The Juniperus procera fruit are very rare to find since the juniperus procera is a dioecious plant implying it has both the male and female on separate plants just like a pawpaw tree. To have the Juniperus procera you definitely have to be lucky since they come from the female plant .The Red cedar fruits are spherical in shape with about 4 to 6 seeds inside .
The Juniperus procera seeds can be harvested by waiting for the fruit to turn brown which makes them dry thus able to harvest the seeds inside .The fruit and seeds both have an aromatic smell .In Swahili the seeds are known as Mbegu ya mritini as they make very good spice
Image of a Red Cedar Tree Seed
The Juniperus Procera Saplings are very rare to find. The juniperus procera takes almost 2 months to shoot to a seedling and this makes the seedling to fetch for 120Ksh to 250Ksh for a single seedling
Juniper wood is appreciated for its pleasant aroma, workability, and light weight, which makes it suitable for craftwork and furniture in some regions especially In the coast the Juniperus procera fruits are used as spices as they are referred to as mti ya mritini. In the olden days the wood was used as a fence to mark boundaries
In Kikuyu, the Juniper tree (Juniperus procera) is known as Mũtarakwa.It is a highly respected indigenous tree in Kikuyu culture, often found in Kenya’s highland forests. Traditionally, the Mũtarakwa tree has been valued not only for its strong, termite-resistant wood used in fencing
The Juniperus procera tree is known by many names across different cultures and regions in East Africa. Its most common English names include: African Pencil Cedar Red Cedar Kenyan Cedar East African Juniper .In local languages, Juniperus procera also has deep cultural roots and is known by various indigenous names: Kikuyu: Mũtarakwa Kipsigis: Torokwet Tree Maasai: Oltarakuai Tree Kisii: Etorokwo or Omoringamu Tree Pokot: Torokwo Tree Samburu: Ntarakui Marakwet: Septet Tree
In Kenya, its wood is commonly used to make offcuts and construction timber for house framing and fencing. One of its standout features is its natural resistance to termites, making it an excellent choice for long-lasting fence posts and outdoor structures.As these trees age—especially those over 100 years old—they often develop natural hollows inside their trunks. These cavities are highly valued in apiculture (bee keeping), where the hollowed trunks are used as natural beehives, providing a safe and insulated environment for bees.
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