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Kenya launches 8 mln USD fund to support conservation of catchment

Xinhua, January 18, 2017 Adjust font size:

The Kenyan Ministry of Environment on Tuesday launched a 8 million U.S. dollar kitty to strengthen conservation of upper Tana catchment that is the source of 90 percent of clean drinking water supplied in Nairobi.

Principal Secretary in the State Department of Environment, Charles Sunkuli said Kenya had set a precedent by being the first African country to launch a fund to support conservation of a critical water catchment.

"The launch of upper Tana Nairobi water fund resonates with our national priorities to reclaim key watersheds that are grappling with numerous threats," Sunkuli said.

Private companies, energy and water utilities alongside international conservation groups are behind the establishment of a fund to support conservation activities in the upper Tana basin.

Sunkuli underscored the critical role of public private partnerships to boost rehabilitation of degraded water towers in Kenya.

"The sustainability of natural resources conservation projects hinges on a strategic alliance among partners in government, industry and multilateral donors," he said.

He reaffirmed the government's commitment to reclaim the upper Tana water catchment basin that has lately experienced rapid depletion linked to human encroachment and climate change.

The new upper Tana water fund will be channeled towards reforestation and terrace farming to reduce sedimentation of downstream rivers that has undermined power generation and supply of clean drinking water.

At the same time, the funds will support climate resilience projects to benefit 21,000 rural households in terms of food security.

The President of Nairobi Water Fund, Eddy Njoroge said Kenya had applied global best practices to establish the innovative financing model for conservation activities in the expansive upper Tana catchment.

"Water is everyone's business hence the decision by Kenyan private sector and international bodies to establish a fund to protect this resource at its major source," Njoroge remarked. Endit