Green Planet Initiative 2050 presents as a driving force for environmental change, youth empowerment, and sustainable development in Kenya. But behind the polished branding and lofty promises lies a pattern of deception, manipulation, and harassment centered around its founder, Festus Kiplagat.
GPI2050 calls itself a “Foundation.” It isn’t. It is registered only as a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) and has never received official approval from the Kenyan government to operate as a foundation. Yet, in every public-facing material, fundraising effort, and media appearance, it uses the term “Foundation”. This is not a semantic oversight but the tip of the iceberg of a calculated scheme of fraud and misconduct targeting the very communities GPI2050 purports to support.
The Face Behind GPI2050: Who is Festus Kiplagat?
As the CEO and founder of GPI2050, Festus Kiplagat has built a public image as a visionary environmentalist driving restoration projects across Africa. This narrative becomes difficult to sustain if countered with his documented legal troubles and allegations of misconduct that cast serious doubts on his integrity and underlying motives.
In a 2017 court case, Kiplagat was found to have harassed and physically attacked a family member during a land dispute. The court described his behavior as disruptive and ordered his permanent eviction from the property. But this was not an isolated incident. In 2025, he filed a lawsuit against an environmental initiative he had previously worked for, deliberately omitting this prior affiliation in court filings. With this legal action, he was clearly attempting to claim control over the project’s leadership, strategy, and funding. The case was riddled with procedural violations, including the withholding of key documents and the submission of contradictory affidavits. The presiding judge concluded that Kiplagat had approached the court with “the most unclean of hands.”
In 2019, a tweet by Festus denounced local gatekeeping in forestry projects and accused community-based conservation programs of being scams. Ironically, his very own conduct reflects the gatekeeping and attempted fund diversion he condemned. This contradiction reveals his deliberate effort to manipulate public perception and secure power under the guise of environmental stewardship.
Why This Story Must Be Told
This isn’t just about one man or one organization. Green Planet Initiative 2050 compromises the credibility of legitimate NGOs working tirelessly to make a difference. When cases like this go unchallenged, they open the door to more deception, erode public trust, and ultimately leave communities worse off.
We must demand better. From leaders. From organizations. From anyone who claims to serve the public good. Festus Kiplagat’s web of lies—disguised as development work—needs to be exposed. And so must the systems and enablers that allowed this deception to persist.
This is not just an exposé. It’s a warning.
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Based on verified legal documents, court rulings, signed agreements, and firsthand accounts. All facts have been cross-referenced to ensure accuracy.
