At least four million people in Ewaso Ng’iro water basin are expected to benefit from a Sh2.5 billion climate resilience programme, aimed at improving their socio-economic development and addressing perennial drought crises in the region.
The programme dubbed the Ewaso Ng’iro Basin Water and Climate Resilience Programme (EWCP) is being supported by the government of Kenya in partnership with the Royal Danish Embassy.
Water, Sanitation and Irrigation CS Eng. Eric Mugaa speaking during the official launch of the Dutch backed programme in Nanyuki, said that it was a game-changer project expected to uplift the lives of millions of people in the country, even as the government commits itself to Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) on issues of agriculture and peace restoration in pastoral areas by availing water resource.
“It’s a socioeconomic right for everyone to have water resource and the government of the day’s agenda is BETA on food security, smallholder farming, conservation and the need to stabilize the region by upholding peace by ensuring minimal movement in search of pasture and water,” said Mugaa.
The CS revealed that the EWCP programme was in line with the National Water and Sanitation Investment Financing plan, where the rural and Arid and Semi- Arid lands (ASALs) are targeted ensuring they are profitable and contribute to the economic development in the country.
“This is a programme that doesn’t leave anyone behind from the catchment to the end user, the rural areas and Arid and Semi-Arid lands are specifically targeted in making sure those areas become profitable and productive,” said the CS.
Moreover, Mugaa highlighted that through the initiative, about a million trees will be planted in the degraded water catchment areas, which have been affected through excessive grazing and other human activities.
“We are restoring water catchment areas that are dilapidated and suffering from excessive grazing, human activities to ensure survival rate of the trees and we will consider fencing the area, the actual impact is on the survival of the trees planted,” he said.
Sector Counsellor for Water, Environment, Energy, Research and Innovation at the Embassy of Denmark in Kenya Erik Larsen Jorgen said that the Danish government had a global responsibility of creating climate resilience and promoting peace and security.
He noted that over the years, the population had increased exponentially, occasioning water scarcity to cater for the needs of people in the Ewaso Ngiro water basin, hence the call to devise ways of addressing growing challenges of that important commodity.
The kitty will also support the construction of 30 water pans and 15 sand dams, development and protection of 30 water springs among other projects in the counties of Isiolo, Meru, Nyandarua, Nyeri and Laikipia, a move governors led by Laikipia governor Joshua Irungu said would be a game-changer project in addressing insecurity linked to water scarcity in Semi-Arid areas.
Irungu called for collaboration aimed at ensuring the project was sustainable.
On his part, Nyandarua governor Kiarie Badilisha lauded the Ewaso Ng’iro Basin Water and Climate Resilience Programme, reiterating that it will transform the lives of residents in the region and promote the conservation of the water catchment areas which are often overlooked.
Meanwhile, the five-year Programme (2025–2030) will be implemented by the Water Trust Fund in collaboration with other stakeholders strengthening climate resilience and improving the socio-economic well-being of communities within the Ewaso Ng’iro Basin through integrated water resources management, ecosystem restoration and sustainable natural resource management.
by Muturi Mwangi
