ucts worth USD 0.8 million (Sh86

Thiba dam to double rice production

By Kamundia Muriithi

Thiba dam project that is nearing completion will increase rice production in the country by 200,000 metric tonnes.

Water from the dam in Kirinyaga County will be used by local farmers to put an additional 10,000 acres of rice crop under irrigation in Mwea.

The Sh20 billion projectfunded by the national government and Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) will also provide sufficient water for double cropping in the entire Mwea Irrigation Scheme.

Water, Sanitation and Irrigation Cabinet Secretary Sicily Kariuki who toured the project, urged the contractors to expedite its construction.

The CS applauded the good work done since the project started in 2018, but raised concern that it may not be ready on time.

In a media briefing at the dam site in Rukenya area of Gichugu constituency. she urged the contractor and the National Irrigation Authority(NIA) to cover lost time and ensure the project is delivered by June next year

“I have come to ensure we fast-track the project and urge the contractor and NIA to adopt a three shift model so that they can deliver it as planned by June, 2021,” stated Kariuki.

She asked them to employ more local youths while guaranteeing quality of the work for the benefit of the host community and for the whole country to get more rice.

The CS, who also inspected the ongoing works at Mwea Canal project, said the two projects are part of the government’s commitment to meeting its Big 4 agenda on food security.

The project was launched by President Uhuru Kenyatta in November 2018 and was meant to be completed in three years.

But last year workers on the project slowed down the works after the government failed to remit monthly dues for over six months which contributed to the project lagging behind schedule.

Kariuki instructed the Kirinyaga County Commissioner Jim Njoka to maintain regular monitoring of the construction progress of the project and keep her office updated.

Kenya rice farmers produce about 200,000 metric tonnes of the commodity annually, with the Mwea Irrigation Scheme accounting for 80 percent.

The country imports more than a third of the 750 metric tons of rice consumed annually, but the construction of Thiba dam is expected to double crop production from next year.

The mega dam on completion, will be 40 metres tall, 1km long and is expected to have a holding capacity of 15 million cubic metres.

Government officials inspecting the Thiba Dam project.

Kitui: Munya commissions water pan

By Boniface Mulu

Agriculture, Fisheries and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya has commissioned the Kwa Isiki water pan in Mbitini, Kitui County.

The 50,540 cubic metres dam will serve approximatly 30,000 community people living around the water in Kisasi District.

The project was funded by the National Agricultural and Rural Inclusive Growth Project (NARIGIP) in partnership with the Kitui County government at a cost of Sh26 million.

NARIGIP is under the Kenya’s Agriculture, Fisheries and Livestock Development Ministry.

Speaking at the function, Kitui County Governor, Charity Kaluki Ngilu said the county will continue working with the national government for the benefit of local people.

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THE WATER WORLD, SEPTEMBER 2020Kenya’s Champion For Water, Environment & Sanitation IssuesCS Agriculture, Peter Munya.

Kiwash to complete Busia projects

By Godfrey Wamalwa

The Kenya Integrated Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (KIWASH) agency has made a comeback to Busia County after nearly a year’s absence.

The organisation had been working in the county since 2016, executing many projects in the water and sanitation sector before exiting late last year after its contract expired.

County Executive Committee Member Water, Environment, Irrigation and National Resources Isaac Alukwe said KIWASH was given another one year contract to complete the projects they left.

Alukwe also revealed that the World Bank had given a soft grant to Busia Water and Sewerage Services Company (BUWASSCO) to boost fight against Covid-19.

He said Kenya Red Cross will also help to alleviate challenges created by recent floods in Budalangi and sections of Samia.

BUWASSCO has also received water treatment chemicals worth Sh1.4 million from UNICEF towards the fight against Covid-19.

Also present was the L&T

Busia Governor, Sospeter Ojaamong.

Company Construction Business Development Manager for East Aftica Region, Sanjeev Kumar Dubey who said the firm specializes in water and Effluent Treatment.

He noted that Busia will join Tanzania and four other African countries that have injected investments in the water sector.

Chief Officer Water and Irrigation Lower Region, George Tom Ekisa said the county government will form a team to help identify viable investment opportunities for L&T as it enters the Kenyan market.

Water and Irrigation Chief Officers Upper Region Hellen Mukanda urged the firm to consider investment opportunities in the irrigation sector.

Citi Aqua is a Nairobi based private water company. We supply clean water for domestic and industrial use, on contract or emergency basis. We also clean both industrial and domestic tanks. Our company is dedicated to offering the best possible solution to emergency water supply cases. Established in 2010, Citi Aqua has risen from supplying water in a 3000 L tanker to a total of 28, 000L tankers. This is because we were able to acquire and keep customers who were always ready to recommend our services.

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Testing of pipes, tank cleaning, Dust suppression to provide a self-sufficient, more automated water collection system. Rainwater harvesting, Above ground water storage solutions and Underground storage solutions. Domestic Emergency Supply

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We have provided temporary drinking water solutions to civil engineering projects and construction sites. Once contracted we will do a direct delivery to you. We are now able to provide 10,000 liter tanker deliveries where you have water shortage for the tanker to off load into.

Donald Kiptoo established a tree nursery when he was only 11 years old at Kokwet village in Kituro Location, Baringo County and has never looked back.

By Kipturgut Enock

I embarked ‘ on full time operations at the tree nursery after schools closed because of the Covid-19 pandemic

-Kiptoo

Donald Kiptoo at his tree nursery. Kiptoo shows a hose pipe donated to him by Baringo Central MP Joshua Kandie.

Student lauded for mega tree nursery

At a tender age of 20, Donald Kiptoo is already a seasoned agro-forestry practitioner because of the enormous contribution to tree planting in the North and Central Rift Valley region.

He beat all odds to establish a tree nursery when he was only 11 years old at Kokwet village in Kituro Location, Baringo County and has never looked back.

He had been working on his tree nursery during school holidays over the years but engaged in full time operation after schools closed because of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Form Four student at Kapsergong Secondary School embarked fully on his small tree nursery he started in 2011 with 100 seedlings.

The seedlings growing business he started on small plot has grown into a formidable business enterprise that has attracted farmers from Baringo, Nakuru, Elgeyo Marakwet and Uasin Gishu counties.

Kiptoo was busy planting seedlings with the assistance of his sister who was weeding when The Water World visited him at his father’s farm.

He is the second born and the only son in a family of six. His parents are small scale farmers.

Elated and hardworking, the student narrated how he developed interest in tree nursery business with the help of his parents.

“When I was eight years old, my parents used to take me to Child Fund Foundation and Cheptebo Rural Development tree nurseries Baringo and Elgeyo Marakwet counties respectively,” said Kiptoo.

It is from those visits that his love for trees and an interest in establish his own tree nursery developed after learning names of different varieties of tree species and their value.

He decided to start a tree nursery for cypress, Grevillea, Pines and fruits like papaws and passion among others.

Apart from trees, he also planted ornamental and flower plants seedlings like Bottle Brushes for compound beautification.

Asked if he will drop out of school to proceed with his lucrative business, the young man said he will juggle and balance between school, home chores and his business. “I plan to study environmental science but mixing school, family chores and my business is not easy because it requires a lot of hard work to be successful,” he stated

He has used proceeds from selling seedlings to pay school fees, electricity installation and the construction of a semi-permanent house which is almost complete.

The house comprises two bed rooms and a sitting room that has cost Sh85, 000 so far still and requires Sh50,000 to complete.

Among the challenges the young entrepreneur has encountered in his business are the hiring of casual labourers to collect water from the river.

Others include transportation of the seedlings to selling points and customers’ homes during deliveries and lack of a water storage tank.

Shortage of planting containers following the ban of polythene bags by the government is also a big hindrance and he wants the government to provide an alternative.

He is grateful to Baringo Central Member of Parliament Joshua Kandie who visited his tree nursery in August to donate a 100 metre hose pipe for pumping water from the nearby river.

“Kandie promised to buy me a 10,000-litre plastic tank for water storage to be used during the dry season,” he said.

During the visist, Kandie promised to empower any youth who is ready to engage in self-employment.

“Many youths are taking illicit brews during the Covid-19 pandemic, while others remain idle, engaging in crime and misbehavior,” said the MP.

Kiptoo also thanked Baringo Deputy Governor Jacob Chepkwony who has recognized his work through the purchase of the seedlings for greening his farm.

Officers from the forestry department in Kabarnet also visited his nursery and advised him to plant more pine, grevillea seed and indigenous trees seedlings which do well in Baringo County and are in high demand.

When I started this business in 2011, my parents dismissed it, saying it was bound to fail although they gave me some financial and moral support.

The business was perceived to be for the elderly to keep them busy during retirement and not a young person like myself at the time.

His mother Kabon Ronoh praised him for establishing the nursery that has gone a long way to generate income for the family.

“Our son paid for the electricity installation services at Kenya Power and for the wiring of the familiy house and his cottage,” said Kabon

She said Kiptoo has saved them during the hard economic times to pay for his school fees and take care of family’s well-being when business is good.

The ambitious young man urged well-wishers to support him purchase water storage tanks and also raise funds for the purchase of a pick-up truck for transportation of the seedlings to customers.

He also asked the county government of Baringo to award him tenders for supply tree seedlings for greening of the environment as envisaged by the national government.

Kiptoo has since sold over 10,000 cypress seedlings, 2,500 Grevillea seedlings, and 5000 Pawpaw seedlings among other tree species.

He urged his fellow youth to engage in self-employment activities like chicken farming and greenhouse technology to eke a living as opposed to waiting for white collar jobs that are scarce.

He further challenged them to plant trees in their homes as a way of greening the environment and help achieve the 10% forest cover.

EDITORIAL

Get experts to unravel Rift Valley lakes mystery

Recent developments in Kenya’s Rift Valley lakes have created a lot of fear and anxiety among residents living around them.

The mystery of water in the lakes increasing at alarming levels even when rains have subsided in the region has left both local communities and environmental experts dumbfounded.

The affected lakes are Turkana, Baringo, Bogoria, Naivasha, Nakuru, Elementaita, Logipi, Solai, Olidem and the manmade Lake 94.

As the waters get out of hand, displacing hundreds of families living around lakes Naivasha, Baringo and Nakuru, there is fear by some geologists that land around the lakes could sink and consume towns and villages.

Local leaders are also anxious over large craters that have emerged in some areas through which all runoff rain water is draining into the ground.

There are fears that the fresh water Lake Baringo whose area has expanded from 176kms sq to 276kms sq, could in the near future merge with the saline lake Bogoria leading to an environmental disaster.

Lake Baringo which has a PH of 7.8 is home to hundreds of hippos and crocodiles, plus different fish species which local communities use for food and birds, while Lake Bogoria with a PH of 10.5 is a flamingo haven for tourists.

Recent reports indicate that Lake Bogoria is flooding on its north end, which is about 15kms from the south end of Lake Baringo.

Environment scientists and geologists have given different opinions as to what may be the cause of the sudden surge of water suspected to emerging from underground.

Some argue that the unfolding phenomenon could be due to an impending geological shift because the Rift Valley’s volcanic activity resulted in water getting into faults, lubricating tectonic plates and causing tremors being experienced in some parts of Baringo County.

Others say water seepage into underground aquifers is being impeded by siltation that has clogged fault lines, leading to water retention.

Another school of thought is linked to climate change, which has given rise to heavy rains leading to the swelling of the lakes, while some environment professionals link the phenomenon to soil erosion that has increased siltation in the lakes.

Local communities, however, claim changes in the lakes began during a geothermal project in Menengai in Nakuru County.

As the scientists grapple with what could be causing the abnormal increase of water levels in the lakes, the situation on the ground is becoming frightening.

Lakes Naivasha and Oloidem have already merged, the same thing has happened to lakes Baringo and 94 as well as Lake Nakuru and Solai, with the numbers of flamingoes in the latter reported to be reducing in recent years.

A few years ago the country went into mourning after the embankment of a small dam around Solai in Nakuru County caved in, leaving water to gush into farms and homes killing many people.

The country has in the past faced many other challenges in containing floods that continue killing hundreds and displacing thousands in what has now become an annual occurrence.

One, therefore, shudders to imagine what will happen should the lake waters spill over into villages across the Kerio Valley and areas surrounding Nakuru and Naivasha towns because, the country has no capacity to handle such a catastrophe.

There is need for proper research to be done now rather than later perhaps with the assistance of international experts with vast geological experience.

THE TEAM

Chief Executive Officer: Peter Silsil, Editor: Fred Biketi, Revise Editor: John Nyaosi, Staff writer: Sammy Munoko Business Development Manager: Stephen Makabila, Marketing Leader: Naomi Wairimu, Graphic Designers: George Waliaula &Gabriel Sankale, Distribution Team: Daniel Maganya, Gerald Labatt & Peter Suge

Use conservation agriculture to protect top soil, earn profit

The term “conservation agriculture” is defined as a concept for resource saving agricultural crop production that strives to achieve acceptable profits together with high and sustained production levels while concurrently conserving the environment.

Conservation agriculture has become an emotionally loaded term in recent years, but it is a must have in farming practice especially in the ever deteriorating production environment occasioned by climate change and unwise land use.

That being the case, every responsible farmer, government and other stakeholders should do anything in their power to pass on the land to the next generation in a better condition than they got it.

No-till crop production is one of the fundamental techniques of conservation agriculture.

Natural resources

One of the most important natural resource for farming is the top soil. The top section of the soil, as in natural forest, has essential micro-organisms that are invisible to the naked eye.

These living organisms decompose organic matter and sequestrate carbon that is essential to the maintenance of humus which in turn binds soil particles together and holds onto the fertilizer.

A healthy soil is made up of these elements, which in turn allow the soil to absorb moisture easily and retain it at the same time.

In addition, enhanced oxygen availability to the plant roots encourages better root development. Once this type of soil is made available, there will be enhanced production of earthworms – the ultimate indicator of healthy soil.

Ploughing and inversion of the top – soil leads to death and chasing away the living micro – organisms and accelerated drying of soil, resulting from increased exposure to the ultraviolet rays of the sun. On the other hand, maintenance of healthy mulch on the soil surface increases chances of success in getting conservation agriculture to work with and for us all.

Adopting no-till

Have the soils analyzed for correction of any shortcomings before scrapping the plough. Acid saturation (acidity) is normally one of the main situations to correct with lime before starting no-till cultivation.

In case in insufficient cover on the soil surface, there is need to grow cover crop.

Mulch must be distributed as evenly as possible and it’s advisable to have more than 35% cover on the soil surface.

With different soils and land size, there is need to use disc,

Conventional planting

Why do some farmers revert back to conventional planting? •Many do not understand that conservation agriculture is a long-term investment for sustainability in farming operations. There is no gain without pain!! •Lack of attention to detail by majority of farming fraternity. •Impatience, since no-till fields appear worse in the early stages of crop growth due to various underlying factors. However, in the dry season, great difference will be noted since no-till look far much better due to enhanced availability of soil moisture.

James Too

tine, ridger or hoe to open the furrow where the seed and fertilizer will be placed at planting. In case of a planter, it must not “bulldoze” the cover, rather it should cut through the mulch and leave narrow passages where the seedlings can emerge easily.

Get advice and ask for demonstrations on your farms from experts.

Controlling weeds and diseases, as in the case of conventional planting, is very important.

No-till needs good weed management prior to planting and after planting, especially when weeds are still young to reduce on chemical usage.

It is, therefore, high time for the farming fraternity to do right things at the right time by considering conservation agriculture and introduce no-till farming practices as a strategic move towards satisfying the rapidly increasing demand for quality agricultural products and the much needed income and jobs.

Too is an agricultural Engineer and has vast experience in production farming operations and farming systems.

What water treatment process entails

Water is the first Personal Protective Equipment-(PPE) and supply of clean potable water in this time and era when we are battling Covid-19 is the first step in preventing it.

Supply of clean water is key to prevention of waterborne diseases and other water related diseases and it is recognized by the 2030 Agenda of the Sustainable Development Goals; SDG 6.

This makes water an enabler in SDGs and it is important, therefore, to make sure water treatment process are adhered to and understood.

Water treatment is the process of cleaning water to make it fit for human consumption or any other process that improves the quality of the raw (untreated) water and the source.

This water is treated as per the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) standard of drinking water derived from the World Health Organisation (WHO’s) standards.

For surface water i.e. from the rivers, dams and lakes, we have a conventional treatment process which uses water treatment chemical to assist in Coagulation and flocculation process(dirt particles combine with the treatment chemical called flocculant), then sedimentation through a basin where the flocs settle to the bottom of the sedimentation tank.

The water then goes through the filtration process done by the filters and clean water is disinfected as it goes to the clear water tank for distribution to customers.

For boreholes, springs and wells, in most cases where the water is fresh water, disinfection is the only treatment done to prevent post contamination as the water goes to the consumers.

Where boreholes have high levels of fluoride and manganese and other inorganic substances above the WHO’s and KEBS standard, further treatment is required like Reverse Osmosis or Desalination through other process like nano-filtration.

Rural water supply system is located in the rural areas where after treatment, water is distributed to the communities through individual water connections, communal water points through water kiosks and yard taps.

Previously water in these areas was clean and only required simple filtration/sedimentation and chlorination systems in the 1980s but this has changed due to the degradation of the water catchment areas and pollution of the water sources.

This means that water has to undergo the full treatment process. The water catchment areas are mostly the forests, wetland and the lakes.

Generally, raw water sources include boreholes, wells, river, streams, springs, lake and oceans while boreholes and spring water are rated as the cleanest naturally among these sources.

They don’t require a lot of treatment procedures since the water to a higher extent is usually of high quality depending on the soil chemical contents and porosity, type of aquifers and the protection of the catchment areas.

Fluoride and Manganese are usually found in large quantities in these two sources though.

All the above sources have different water treatment mecha-

nisms. Oceans for instance use non-filtration process to remove the salts.

A conventional treatment plant as explained earlier is where raw water is treated by use of chemicals i.e. Aluminum Sulphate (Alum) used to remove dirt.

The Aluminum part combines with the dirt particles to form colloids or flocs, a process called floccullation or coagulation where colloids stick together and settle at the sedimentation tanks, then clear water is collected through a channel for filtration

Another chemical used is called Sodium Bicarbonate aka Soda Ash that controls the PH. If the PH is low, there is need to add soda ash to adjust to near neutral at PH 7 to make sure the water does not corrode the pipes and other fixtures at the consumer level. Alum also works best between PH 7.0-7.2

Water goes through the filtration process by use of rapids and filters to make sure it has no sediments and it is then collected to the clear water tank, where it is disinfected before it is distributed to the consumers.

Common disinfection methods include chlorination, ozone and UV-light. Chlorination is the most common with a requirement of residual chlorine at the consumer level at 0.2mg/l of chlorine.

Water quality testing is an important element in water treatment for basic parameters for both raw and treated water.

For raw water tests are done to determine the level of treatment chemicals to be applied where necessary and the dosages.

One such test is the jar test which gives the operator the amount of chemicals to be used per treatment period.

Treated water is also treated for quality assurance to make sure water is fit for human consumption and to maintain the same quality at the consumer level.

Quality Monitoring is also done by PH,Turbidity, Colour, Alkalinity, Total Hardness and conductivity, Residual Chlorine, Coliform and E.coli tests amongst others at various points in the water supply chain.

Surveillance is also done by regulators and other oversight bodies to make sure that the rights of the public to clean and safe water is guarded as water is a human right too.

To the workers in this essential services sector, let us keep our taps running especially at this time of Covid-I9 pandemic, and as behind the scenes workers who will never be acknowledged in this fight, history will remember that Water was the first PPE in this battle.

Margaret W. Maina Supply of clean water is key to prevention of waterborne diseases and other water related diseases and it is recognized by the 2030 Agenda of the Sustainable Development Goals; SDG 6.

Ms Maina is the Managing Director, Limuru Water and Sewerage Company.

Why we must protect Mangrove ecosystem

The International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem is celebrated every year on 26 July as a unique opportunity to raise awareness of the importance of mangroves as a “unique, special and vulnerable ecosystem”, and to promote their sustainable management, conservation and use.

This day is a reminder of the pivotal role of mangroves in preserving ecosystems. Taking care of nature that surrounds us has become even more critical as the world grapples with the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

This year, the Nairobi Convention has released Guidelines on Mangrove Restoration for the Western Indian Ocean Region, which for the first time, analyzes risks and challenges to mangrove restoration projects and suggests potential solutions.

An ecosystem like none other

According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), mangroves are commonly found along sheltered coastlines in the tropics and subtropics where they provide crucial socio-economic and environmental functions.

They provide a variety of wood and non-wood forest products and protect coastlines from wind, waves and water currents. Mangroves also conserve biological diversity – including several endangered mammals, reptiles, amphibians and birds. They protect coral reefs, seagrass beds and shipping lanes against siltation while providing habitat, spawning grounds and nutrients for a variety of fish and shellfish.

In the latest report by Global Mangrove Alliance, an estimated 67% of mangroves have been lost or degraded to date, and an additional 1% is lost each year. This puts mangroves at risk of being obliterated. To support a comprehensive global approach to largescale mangrove conservation, restoration, and sustainable use, several organizations including the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), World Wildlife Fund, The Nature Conservancy, Conservation International, and Wetlands International, have come together to form the Global Mangrove Alliance (GMA).

This alliance brings together NGOs, governments, industry, local communities and funders to not only stop mangrove degradation but also to increase mangrove cover by 20% by 2030. The alliance also has defined underlying objectives of utilizing mangroves as a nature-based solution to enhance climate adaptation and mitigation, food security, and human well-being.

“In addressing mangrove loss, wider planning regimes are needed that acknowledge the true complexity of marine and coastal ecosystems and incorporate them into a network of protected areas,” Levis Kavagi, the Africa Coordinator of Ecosystems and Biodiversity Programme at UN Environment Programme, said. “We must understand that sustainable mangrove forestry and aquaculture practices can reduce pressure on mangroves and provide a steady income for local communities.”

High population pressure in coastal areas has, however, led to user change in many mangrove areas to infrastructure, aquaculture, rice and salt production. While numerous case studies describe mangrove losses over time, information on the status and trends of mangrove area coverage globally level is scarce.

Changing lifestyles have altered our environmental use, especially land and other natural resources. Forests and other natural areas have been cleared to create spaces for urban areas and settlements, agriculture and industries. This has reduced the overall space for wildlife and degraded natural buffers between humans and animals.

Lisa Murray

In the latest report by Global Mangrove Alliance, an estimated 67% of mangroves have been lost or degraded to date, and an additional 1% is lost each year.

Nature-based solutions

Investing in nature-based solutions will be essential to prevent future catastrophe. Mangroves are among the most productive naturebased solutions. Not only do they protect shorelines from eroding, shielding us from floods, hurricanes, and storms, but they also provide nursery areas for fish, crustaceans, molluscs, and more, while supporting many threatened and endangered species. Mangroves are also an essential tool in the fight against climate change. They take up to five times more carbon out of the atmosphere than forests on land. Globally, mangroves provide goods and services estimated to be worth billions per year.

“Successful mangrove management interventions need to be backed up by the right economic and political settings, and incentives including payments for ecosystem services and incentives to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation,” said Dr Juliette Biao Koudenoukpo, Director and Regional Representative of UN Environment Programme in Africa.

Mangroves in Africa

In Africa, the main hotspots of mangrove loss are in Mozambique and Western Africa. In East Africa, pollution, exploitation and extreme weather are important drivers of mangrove loss, while conversion to agriculture or aquaculture has been significant in Mozambique, Madagascar and in West Africa.

Mangrove restoration also offers the possibility to reverse patterns of mangrove decline and rebuild lost biodiversity and ecosystem services. To bring everyone on board and ensure an essential buy-in, it is vital that beneficiaries of mangrove services are integrally involved in mangrove management and restoration planning. Relevant and more specific national laws, regulations and policies that are enacted and enforced are critical to improved mangrove management.

KDF launches borehole in Kisii

Over 5,000 homes in Nyagancha village of Bobasi, Kisii County will get clean water courtesy of a project launched by the Defence Ministry.

The project will serve Nyagancha Primary School, Nyagancha Health Centre, Nyagancha market and neighbouring communities.

Major Peter Njenga represented Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) during the official handing over ceremony at Nyagancha Primary School.

-Calvin Moseti

Piped water brings joy to Embu village

Villagers in Embu recently celebrated when they received the first drop of treated, piped water in the area.

They were witnessing the launch of phase one of a water project funded by Embu County Government at a cost of Sh14.4 million.

Previously, women and children trekked long distances to fetch water from River Thuci and the crocodile infested River Tana, with scores of residents losing their lives after they were attacked by crocodiles.

-Kamundia Muriithi

Youth urged to start tree nurseries

Youths have been challenged to establish tree nurseries to meet the rising demand for seedlings as the government gears towards attaining 10 per cent forest cover.

Ministry of Environment Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) Mohammed Elmi urged youths to venture into raising seedlings as an incomegenerating activity.

Speaking in Murang’a during distribution of seedlings to farmers in Maragua area, Elmi urged youth groups to seek technical advice from Kenya Forestry Service (KFS) and Kenya Forest Research Institute (KEFRI) on how to effectively establish tree nurseries.

“Young people can make a lot of money by selling seedlings. Let them get seeds from KFS and be trained on how to start better nurseries. The demand for seedlings countrywide is quite high,” noted Elmi.

-Our Reporter

How biodigester has changed waste management system

By Sammy Munoko

Gone are the days when exhauster machine services were required for domestic and commercial waste disposal.

Technology has eased challenges of the time spent on getting hired waste collection bowsers from faraway places to collect the solid waste.

The multipronged waste management modern biodigester technology is changing the septic tank processes with a simple fact that users are assured of continued use of their facility.

The biodigester can’t get filled up if the number of people using it does not overwhelm its capacity. Traditional septic tanks require emptying after few months or years of utilisation, as opposed to the use of the biodigester.

Apart from ensuring the septic tanks do not get filled up, modern biodigesters also generate waste water as a by-product.

The Director and Founder of Modern Biokenya (Modern Biodigester Kenya) Ken Kagunyi took time to expound on the scientific process that takes place to keep the waste at constant level or reducing it despite continued off-loading of the matter in the septic tanks.

Fermentation

The process involves introduction of bacteria to break down the waste in the septic tank.

Once the waste enters the biodigester, it is broken down by bacteria, which reduces the size of the physical waste in a process that ensures anaerobic fermentation whereby the bacteria digests the matter in the absence of oxygen.

“Waste is reduced and gasses that result in bad smell are removed and water is separated from soild waste,” explained Kagunyi.

Reduced solid material is left to decay for three to four hours through a process called biodegradation of displacement.

This entails a process of catalyzed breakdown when waste comes in contact with the enzyme plastered on the inside of the biodigester and then, waste is moved to soak pit through a special outlet.

“The biodigester is round in shape (Israel design) which creates optimum space for enzyme bacterial reaction to reduce the size of waste quickly,” he added.

He said the enzymes are imported, hence calls for networking to ensure the project continued success in Kenya.

“We partner with other firms that do the same work to import the enzyme which is quite costly and not easily available hence making the entire process of setting up a biodigester extremely expensive,” said Kagunyi.

He explained that the other scientific reason biodigetsers don’t get filled up is because immersion of anything that has volume in a liquid displaces an equal volume.

Emptying

The technology has several advantages ranging from cost effectiveness when emptying the septic tanks, being environment friendly because it is odourless, less space occupation and also because it is recyclable. Getting water as a by-product that can be used for irrigation purposes is also another plus.

The anaerobic digestion inactivates pathogens hence reducing incidents of waterborne diseases for those utilizing the water generated from the biodigester.

A word of caution from Kagunyi is that there are set standards while establishing the biodigester system in order to meet the expectations of those using the facility.

“Biodigesters can get filed up if poorly constructed. There is need to consider the number of people whose waste will be channeled to the biodigester,” he said.

Waste discharge must be in tandem with the enzyme ability to react within the biodigester to break down the waste matter to manageable quantities.

Low enzyme application compared to quantity of waste discharged will only result in waste production and no water as expected.

It is, therefore, important to ensure the number of people and housing units are allocated corresponding size of biodigester system.

“We have four products. A 1.5m diameter biodigester is done for schools/ commercial buildings with less than 100 pupils per day, 2m diameter biodigester for a capacity of 200 people per day and 3m diameter biodigester for 450 people per day,” said Kagunyi.

In cases where there are more people than the capacity, they increase the height of the biodigester so as to create more surface area for enzymatic reaction and biodegradation.

The biodigesters are made by cementing the lower part and raise it step by step, which allows for increase of height when it is required. Kagunyi stated that waste from toilets should be channeled to the biodigester while other kitchen and bathroom wastes should be directed to the soak pit.

Poor co-ordination of the process results in blockage and degradation of the system resulting in additional charges in terms of repairs and maintenance.

Kitchen fat waste is a major contributor to that challenge hence grease trap must be used in the kitchen sink to trap fats and allow water to drain to the soak pits.

The soak pit is only incorporated in biodigesters for residential houses but for commercial building, clients are required to construct soak pits at a separate cost.

Modern Biokenya Limited was founded in 2016 and registered in 2018 and Kagunyi has been working through partnerships to expand his venture and share valuable ideas and resources.

THE ADVANTAGES OF BIODIGESTER

• Occupies less space • Does not fill up • No bad odour or smell • Water can be recycled to flush toilet or cleaning or irrigation • Savings construction, labour • Leaves room for improvement in the environment sanitation and hygiene • Anaerobic digestion inactivates pathogens and parasites, hence reducing incidence of water borne diseases

Email: info@modernbiokenya.co.ke Facebook: Modern biodigester Kenya Call/ Text/ Whatsapp 0720 791988 0716 458409 Located at TWO WAYS JUNCTION center RUAKA along Limuru Road

ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE

Lake Magadi in danger of extinction due to siltation

By Ben Leshau

Lake Magadi, the sole soda ash producing lake in East Africa, faces risk of extinction in the next five years should uncontrolled siltation continue unabated.

Massive siltation from rampant human activity in five catchment areas drains into river Kisamis which flows into the lake.

The findings were from a study conducted by the National Environment and Complaints Committee (NECC) on the degradation of the five catchment areas in neighbouring Narok county. The lake is in Kajiado county.

The siltation is blamed on mining. Residents of Mosiro, who live along the Kajiado/Narok border, recently held a demonstration to protest against human activity that is endangering the lake.

Over 100 residents living along the River Kisamis launched complaints to the committee, claiming that TATA Chemicals Ltd that mines the soda ash at the lake, had built dykes along the river before proper public participation was carried out.

After the tour, the NECC Secretary John Chumo cited the continued cultivation of catchment areas such as Nairagie-Enkare, Kormoto, Oloitip, Suswa and Oltapot as the reason for siltation in the lake which is 640 metres above sea level.

“The upper catchment areas are 2,000 metres above sea level while the lake is just 640 metres above sea level making it vulnerable to siltation due to soil deposits carried by river Kisamis downwards,” said Chumo.

The Environment Ombudsman also revealed that 30 per cent of Lake Magadi had already been covered by siltation and that should the trend continue it will completely disappear in the next five years.

The lake is a key revenue source to the government and local community as it contributes over Sh5 billion annually in foreign exchange and also supports livelihoods of the local community.

Since 2005, water in the lake has continued to dwindle due to siltation. Chumo attributes this to wanton destruction of trees for charcoal as well as clearing of shrubs in catchment areas for agricultural purposes.

He said that on a single rainy day an estimated 8,000 metric tons of silt is deposited into the lake thus endangering its existence.

Lake Magadi gets the silt from as far as 90km which is now posing a threat to the 1,200kms sq lake.

Flood waters from upstream also displace locals who complained that the dykes diverted water to their private lands.

Jackson Kormoto, one of the complainants, lamented that they were not consulted when the dykes were constructed along the river and there are complaints of floods sweeping away livestock because the dykes direct water to farms.

“We are ready to conserve Lake Magadi but we need to also be respected and heard,” said Kormoto, who is a spokesman of Mosiro residents.

Chumo attributed the degradation of the lake to illegal activities in Mau Forest.

National Environmental Complaints Committee members inspecting gulleys at Emurtoto area in Narok East. Photo/Ben Leshau Vihiga launches climate change fund committee

The Vihiga County Climate Change Fund Planning Committee has been launched to oversee the climate change initiatives in the county.

The committee is tasked with initiating and coordinating finance for climate change adaptation and mitigation activities at the community level and establishing climate finance mechanisms.

It will also facilitate and plan climate change adaptation and mitigation and carry out budgetary framework, while seeking and receiving grants from international sources among other tasks.

Vihiga County is among the top ten counties that have to enact the County Climate Change Fund Act 2019, which aligns with the Climate Change Fund Act of 2016.

Vihiga Governor Wilber Ottichilo urged the committee to address challenges posed by climate change while Makueni County Chief Officer for Environment Becky Nthenge asked them to synergise climate change protocols from the ward levels.

The committee is led by Humphrey Mukisira, a career climate crusader.

- Mathews Achola

From curse to blessing: Northern Kenya herders turn cactus into fodder

By Shadrack Omuka

Email shadomuka@gmail.com

Dressed in a checked red and blue shuka and tyre sandals, Allan Kosimbei is seated on a traditional stool behind his hut. Beside him is a bunch of cactus cladodes he harvested the previous day.

Kosimbei, 58, was born and raised in the outskirts of Doldol town, a tough arid area where climatic conditions have taught him a lot of survival skills.

Although he has managed to adapt to many situations, he did not know that the stubborn cactus plant that had killed his animals over the years could actually be an animal feed.

“I used to hate cactus but I now use it to feed my animals. Nobody knew that one day, it would become beneficial,” says Kosimbei, who is also an adult education teacher.

Every dry season, North Eastern farmersprepare for the worst as most of their animals are likely to die due to lack of pasture and water.

Some wise herders sell off their stock the moment they sense danger, leaving only a few, and save the money.

But the majority start to move with their livestock in search for water and grass. Many of the animals, however, eventually become weak and die.

As herders mourn, slaughter houses and butcheries rejoice, because that is the time to get animals at extremely low prices. During prolonged droughts, the price of a mature cow can drop to a paltry Sh2,000, down Sh50,000. Since they discovered cactus, herders like Kosimbei have nothing to worry about because they feed their livestock cactus, thus saving them from starvation.

The cactus has spread across the northern region ruining grazing fields, which making it the most hated plant by herders across the rangelands.

“I used to hate this plant when I was growing up due to negative mentality implanted in me by my grandfather,” he said.

They called cactus the invasive weed planted by the devil to clear grazing fields so that our animals would die.

When grazing fields dry up, cactus is the only vegetation that is left green in the middle of the vast parched Laikipia plains because they endure tough climatic conditions.

But things changed when a few years ago, scientists from various research organisations visited the area to teach locals how to turn cactus into livestock feed.

Among the beneficiaries was Clyde Ntepenikawho was shown how to use

Fruits from Opuntia megacantha are edible by both humans and animals but they have several sharp elegant spines that are easily removed by people.

cactus for livestock feed by a friend two years ago. “I grew up knowing that cactus kills animals when they ingest the spiky leaves found on the cladodes. But today it is a wonderful animal feed, thanks to the researchers,” Ntepenika said.

John Kang’ara, a researcher and animal nutritionist at Kenya Agricultural Livestock and Research Organisation (Kalro), said the prickly pear type of cactus can be used in tough times as animal feed.

The prickly pear (Opuntia megacantha) cactus contains 90 per cent moisture which is enough to save livestock for a long time,hence curbing losses to farmers.

The plant was introduced in the northern part of the country and other drylands by colonial settlers in the early 19th century to fence their farms.

But as years went on, the plant spread throughout the region invading grazing fields and covering thousands of hectares of land forcing farmers to look for ways to eradicate it.

Elephants, baboons, birds and other wild animals that feed on cactus fruits are responsible for dispersion of the seeds for germination across the region making it hard for the farmers to control it.

Fruits from Opuntia megacantha are edible by both humans and animals but they have several sharp elegant spines that are easily removed by people.

Livestock, however, just consume them whole thus damaging the digestive canal, which eventually kills them.

“I have lost several animals to drought. If I had known earlier that cactus can be used as fodder, I could now be rich,” said Joseph Lenorkulal, 72, another herder in Laikipia North who has been taught how to harvest and prepare cactus.

Dr. Willis Owino of Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), who has also done research on cactus, says utilising what can naturally grow in ASAL regions as animal feed is one of the best methods of adapting to climate change.

“An animal like a sheep for instance can survive on cacti for several months without supplementation,” Dr. Owino told reporters in Doldol.

He, however, said that cactus has to be processed by completely crashing the spines in the cladodes to produce thick pulp that is fed to animals.

Owino further said farmers must adhere to safety measures while processing it as a single spike left in the pulp might cause a serious problem to animals.

According to Peter Lorikuni, a veterinary officer in northern Kenya, though not adequate, the amount of moisture in the plant can keep the animal going for several months and save farmers huge losses.

“This is something that could have started many years ago but the problem was that it was not easy to convince farmers to embrace cactus as the majority of them hate the plant,” says Lorikuni.

From a military enthusiast to top irrigation technician

By Sammy Munoko

Henry Kuya is a general technician committed to ensuring food security is attained in the country through irrigation support services.

He has a five year experience in providing solutions to the technical challenges in irrigation that has boosted the food supply in arid and semi-arid areas in Kenya.

Aged 28, Kuya who comes from Kakamega County in Bukura, is from a family of four siblings and has worked diligently to earn recognition from his seniors.

He attended Mwiyenga Primary School, in 2012 and Shikunga High School all in his home county of Kakamega.

Kuya had an ambition of becoming a military officer and tried three times to enlist in the army but was unsuccessful.

The frustration pushed him to consider other options because time was quickly running out and his other three brothers had enrolled for education courses.

“I ventured into a unique career path from my other family members by joining Bukura Institute of Agriculture to pursue a three-year diploma course in Irrigation and Drainage Engineering in 2014,” says Kuya.

He took his attachment course at FineTouch Africa in Kajiado County and later did his internship at the same organisation before securing employment there in 2016.

Kuya appreciates FineTouch for granting him a platform to hone his skills in the water engineering sector after graduating from college.

The technician says the organisation has enabled him foot his bills especially in the challenging economic times occasioned by Covid-19 pandemic.

His tasks include overhead and drip irrigation, construction of green houses, installation of dam liners in fish ponds and plumbing works.

He says to attain food security, one of the national government’s key agendas, irrigation is part of the solution especially in the arid and semi-arid regions of Kenya where there is limited rainfall.

The National Irrigation Board (NIB) is at the forefront of supporting irrigation schemes in the country to boost food supply to meet rising demand.

He appealed to the government to consider giving loans to young Kenyans so that they can venture into agriculture and eliminate the high rate of dependency due to lack of jobs.

“Youth groups can establish greenhouses among other initiatives to generate income for themselves,” notes Kuya.

He plans to set up an irrigation establishment to benefit many Kenyans who can’t access food.

He rates irrigation coverage in the country to be at 40 per cent hence the need to expand food production under irrigation.

Kuya faced security challenges while executing his duties in North Eastern counties like Mandara, Wajir and in Somalia.

Outdated and faulty machines owned by clients also pose a great challenge in execution of his duties and in some places language barrier slows down the progress of his work.

Kuya says quality of service or provision of good products to clients is of utmost priority to grain their trust.

He works with a pool of other qualified technicians who traverse the entire country to provide irrigation-related solutions to clients at a reasonable fee under the guidance of their supervisors.

FineTouch Africa is based in Kajiado County and has branches in Nairobi, Eldoret, Mombasa, Nakuru and Kitale.

Henry Kuya, General Irrigation Technician. General irrigation technician Henry Kuya repairing a broken pipe.

Meru County drills 200 boreholes

Residents of Tigania and Buuri in Meru County can finally access sufficient water supply after the County Government sank 200 boreholes.

Residents in the two semiarid areas have been relying on relying on relief food aid for survival in the past.

The County Government is geared towards drilling adequate number of boreholes in five subcounties covering Tigania West, Tigania East, Igembe North, Igembe Central and Buuri.

Solar powered boreholes provide large quantities of water supply to residents for both domestic use and enhancing agricultural activities.

Many famers have expressed optimism that agricultural yield will greatly be enhanced following the County Government’s intervention. ADVERTISING FEATURE

SethStar Solar Solution keeps Kenya green

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Many competing firms have taken up the challenge to venture into the trade by offering solar energy solutions.

SethStar Solar Solution is one such company that specializes in green renewable energy supplies to its clients.

This solutions are accelerated by the fact that the company has highly qualified and experienced Engineers locally who work in collaboration with those from Canada and China.

A wide range of solarpowered solutions are provided by SethStar Company:

Solar Water Heating Systems – Provides both flat plate and evacuated tube solar water heating systems to meet individual and commercial hot water requirements. This system saves up to 70 per cent of water heating electricity bills.

Inverter Power Backup System – It ensures uninterrupted power supply for end users, devoid of unnecessary noise and gives instant power backup automatically.

Solar Pumping System – They are independent systems that consist of solar panel, submersible pumps and inverter. Use of solar water pumping saves huge costs.

Solar Lighting Systems – They are lighting systems that include the solar panels, solar street lights and floodlights. It turns on automatically depending on the weather and has guaranteed life span of at least five years.

Product installation for its customers is done countywide and the solar panels can use minimum amount of light to generate electricity, not necessarily direct sunshine.

Customer satisfaction is rated at 94 per cent while its product quality is at 96 per cent hence conforms to energy regulatory requirements set out in Kenya.

The solar panels have a manufacturer warrantee period of between 30 to 50 years of use. Solar power being a renewable resource is environmentally friendly and it is freely available.

The company’s head office is located at the Kenya Clothing House along Ronald Ngala Street in Nairobi.

The highly misunderstood hyena

By Dennis Ochieng

Few animals are as maligned as the hyena. In most societies, they are referred to as an epitome of greed. But in Luo Nyanza, the name Ondiek (hyena) isn’t only a surname but one of praise.

Admittedly, hyenas aren’t endearing creatures with their beady eyes, leaning back posture and the dull limping movement which all suggest something scruffy and villainous.

The hyena’s unnerving howls pierces and often plants fear in the African night which makes it a hated and feared creature that can make one to tremble.

“It’s only the genitalia which looks similar,’’ explained Ali Hassan, an environmentalist dismissing the notion hyena is a hermaphrodite. Against this background the hyena has received more than its fair share of negative publicity but the straight record is that the hyena isn’t a dog of some sort as many mistakenly think. They are a territorial distinct species and the resemblance is purely superficial.

They are commonly thought to be cowards but far from that, they are effective hunters and not just scavengers as they have been mistaken to be.

Hyenas have exceptionally powerful shoulders, have the strongest jaws of all African carnivores and are quite efficient at pack hunting their own prey –even as large as a buffalo.

They are ranked among the great predators of Africa and have been known to chase lionesses away from their own prey when they are eating.

The hyena has effective hunting skills and through scavenging, they are known as the inspector general and garbage collectors because they go round making the area they live in clean by feeding up on trash thus preventing epidemics.

They not only kill and eat sickly animals which are on their death bed but also have strong jaws that crush large bones keeping the environment clean.

“The cleaner general changes roles and finishes off the job to prevent the sickly or weak animals from further suffering thus offering euthanasia,’’ explains Ali Hassan of Hirola Home Range .

He adds that ecologically, hyenas play vital role in natural balance by maintaining the number of animal herds and preventing overgrazing in wildlife sanctuaries.

Although it’s said laughter is the best medicine, the hyena’s manic chuckle may sound a bit unpleasant to many but in realty is for merely communicating with fellow clan members.

According to researchers, the communication enables widely scattered hyenas to let each other know where they are so they can regroup quickly if the need arises such as defending their territory or form a hunting party.

“The excitement of making a kill or discovering carrion is voiced by high pitched giggles and each spotted hyena has its own whoop which is recognised by other hyenas,’’ said Hassan.

But not all hyenas laugh. The southern Africa brown hyena is smaller and quieter than the more common spotted hyena. The brown hyena prefers to forage alone instead of in groups and relies more on communication by scent.

So as Nyanza people of Kenya have Ondiek, Otoyo mang’ang’a as revered surnames, nicknames and praise names, they are a window of opportunity for misunderstood hyena.

It is no laughing matter because Nyanza people ‘love’ the hyena because it is threatened in the wild.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) maintains the hyena at ‘Red List,’ at risk and near extinct species in the wild world.

“Major reasons for decline of their number is due to habitat loss, poisoning, shooting, snaring by humans, decreasing sources of carrion and wildlife prey as hyena turn to livestock into prey,’’ explained Hassan .

He added that humans are the major cause of hyena mortality as they kill it for straying into farms and for its skin, fur, meat and body parts for use in traditional medicine.

Hassan revealed that in neigbouring Somalia, hyena meat is a delicacy believed to the spike the libido and in Ethiopia they are kept as pets and not seen as pests.

Research has revealed that hyena has a unique immune system that withstands diseases that kill other animals, hence their importance to human beings.

The IUCN notes that hyenas have strict hierarchy with the highest ranking males falling below lowest ranking females in a matriarchal society maintained by dominant females exerting authority.

Females live in clans forever while males leave at the age of two and half years to form or join new clans.

Hyenas after having a sumptuous meal. Photo/Dennis Amoto

WASTE MANAGEMENT

Kenya bags inaugural ‘Safer Tourism Seal’ award

By Sammy Munoko

The Kenyan tourism sector has received a major boost after being conferred with the new “Safe Tourism Seal” award by an international association.

This means Kenya is the first country to receive the much-coveted tourism global award presented by the Rebuild Travel virtually to Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala (pictured) last month.

The recognition follows the Safe Travel Stamp award to the country by the World Travel and Tourism Council earlier in June.

The virtual event was attended by global tourism leaders under the Rebuild Travel Umbrella, a global pro-tourism industry group composed of members of tourism boards, ministers of tourism, professional associations, industry stakeholders, researchers, academicians and travellers.

While receiving the award, Balala said the recognition was a testimony of Kenya’s sustained efforts to facilitate safety of travelers amid the Covid-19 pandemic challenge.

“As a destination, we have put together health and safety measures that are aimed at ensuring the safe reopening of the tourism sector. This is to ensure that our citizens, travellers and workers are well protected. On behalf of my country, I am happy to receive this recognition that shows we are headed in the right direction in regard to the Covid-19 safety protocols,” said Balala in a press statement.

For a country to receive such an award, the destination must address key aspects known as “tourism surety” through travellers’ safety, security, destination’s reputation, economic visibility and health.

The Safer Travel Seal will go a long way in restoring traveller confidence while heading to Kenya as the country gradually reopens the tourism sector to both domestic and foreign tourists, following the easing of some Covid-19 restrictions.

“I can say confidently that we have rolled out successfully the protocols we put in place together with the Ministry of Health. If you visit our hotels, eateries and other tourism outlets in Kenya you will be assured of safety if you adhere to the guidelines. I encourage all those who wish to visit our country to do so confidently,” said the CS.

President Uhuru Kenyatta last month also expressed his satisfaction with the measures being undertaken by the tourism sector stakeholders against coronavirus pandemic and urged local and international tourists to visit Kenya as a safe destination.

After the pandemic hit the country and the world early this year, Kenya collaborated with the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) in a campaign dubbed ‘TravelTomorrow’ geared towards urging travellers to stay a home and remain safe against the adverse effects of Covid-19 pandemic.

The Ministry of Tourism through the Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) also partnered with the private sector to keep the destination alive through virtual live streaming initiative.

The rebuild tourism and travel members congratulated the CS and Kenya for the rare award and recognised the initiatives taken by the government through the Ministry of Tourism and Health in ensuring safety of all travellers.

The Safer Tourism Seal will expire in 2022 and if the destination still meets the ‘tourism surety’ requirements, Kenya will be considered for renewal.

The tourism sector has greatly been hit by the Covid-19 pandemic, resulting in loss of jobs for many hospitality industry employees.

The hospitality industry in Kenya is gradually opening up following the relaxation of containment measures by the government after stakeholders adhered to the set safety and health protocols.

WB gives Mumias Sh143m for waste management

By Achola Mathews

The World Bank has given the County government of Kakamega Sh143 million for infrastructure development including a waste management facility in Mumias town.

The Kakamega County Deputy Governor, Philip Kutima, said the amount will be increased to Sh210 million to improve infrastructure in Mumias to meet its municipality status.

“We are investing heavily in improving road network and social amenities to modernise the town,” said Kutima.

Speaking in Mumias during the launch of the project, he said the county government will also ensure all homes are supplied with clean piped water.

He said Mumias has enough water but only a third is being used and the target is to ensure that everybody has clean water.

The Deputy Governor said the decentralized waste management facility will ensure no waste is discharged into River Nzoia.

Kakamega County Urban Water and Sanitation Corporation Chief Executive Officer, Abdikar Abdi, said the facility will help reduce waterborne diseases by targeting population of the urban low-income area with dire need for sanitation. “The project will include operator’s house, solid waste incinerator, construction of Safisan toilets and training of local artisans, emptiers and operators,” said Abdikadir. Prof Laban Ayiro, the Corporation’s chairman said the 50 cubic metres facility will serve 4,500 beneficiaries. “Our mandate is to supply clean water to homesteads and offer sewerage services to people. I appreciate Water Sector Trust Fund for this project as it will improve public sanitation in Mumias,” said Ayiro.

Deputy Governor Prof. Philip Kutima takes part in a groundbreaking ceremony for waste management facility. Photo\Achola Mathews

Sh5.3b boost for 20,000 Bunyala Irrigation farmers

By Our Reporter

Thousands of farmers in Siaya and Busia counties will benefit from the expansion of Bunyala rice irrigation scheme.

The project is being undertaken by the National Irrigation Authority (NIA) at a cost of Sh.5.3 billion.

The project, which is expected to be completed in December 2022, will cover an estimated 20,000 farmers from the current 2,000 in Budalang’i and Alego Usonga constituencies.

The expansion targets an extra 10,000 acres under irrigation in phase one of its implementation and another 10,000 acres in phase two.

According to the Project Manager Eng. Edwin Manyonge, the expansion is aimed at ensuring food security and wealth creation for residents.

“The project is necessitated by the need to increase the acreage area under production in the lower regions of River Nzoia,” he said.

He added that expansion will also cater for other food crops apart from rice which has been allocated about 60 per cent of the area under irrigation.

Budalang’i is known for flooding every year when Nzoia River bursts its banks due to heavy rainfall leading to deaths and destruction of food crops and property.

When it floods, residents are forced to move to safer grounds while learners are relocated to schools in safer areas.

Chief Engineer Planning and Design Charles Muasya said it was critical to get it right during the design stage to prevent floods and for effective irrigation farming.

“During design stage we found it necessary for dykes be developed at the river for sustainability of the ongoing irrigation scheme expansion project,” he said.

The project is funded by the World Bank, German Development Bank (KfW) and the Kenyan government.

Bunyala irrigation scheme was started in 1959 with an initial 534 acres under paddy rice production and has been under production since then.

Irrigation water is pumped from the river after which it flows by gravity through furrows or open earth channels to the farms.

Due to increased demand for rice, two new pumps sets were installed in 2005 and two more were installed in 2007.

A section of a farm at Bunyala Rice Irrigation Scheme. Local farmers are set to benefit from government funding to increase rice production.

About 95 per cent of the works on phase one of the project is complete and it is to be implemented through force of gravity which is cheaper compared to water pumps that consume a lot of power.

The initial canal stretching 3.2kms will be expanded to 20 kms on completion.

A farmer, Susan Beryl, said rice irrigation farming has been a good source of income that has enabled her to create jobs by employing over five workers on her farm.

The benefits of the expansion include food security, employment and wealth creation thereby improving the living stands.

In the 2017-18 financial year rice production yields increased from 3,650 to 5,350 tons.

The left bank of the river covers Muluwa, Nemali, Munaka, Luwamoro, Nanjomi, Buhowa and Siamungu while the right bank covers Ruambwa/Mudembi.

About 10 per cent of the potential area has been effectively utilised but the remaining part is not yet developed, yet there is increasing demand for irrigated agriculture, according to NIA.

Expanded

The scheme acreage expanded from 543 acres in 2006 to 1,880 acres in 2018.

Although long term plans to increase area under irrigation are underway, short term goals are in progress to have an additional 200acre crop area by extending the canal at Muluwa phase two.

Another measure is to extend the canal at Mudembi to bring under irrigation an additional 200 acres at Ruamwa/Mudembi phase five. Cropping intensity was also increased from 90 to 150 per cent by introducing two crops in a year as opposed to one crop.

This initiative not only reduces field fallow time but has also increased production under the same acreage.

Other notable irrigation schemes in Kenya are Bura, Mwea, Tana, Perkerra, Ahero and West Kano.

Nature challenge: Kipchoge champions tree-planting race

By Philemon Kiprop

Marathon world record holder Eliud Kipchoge is now championing a new cause of conserving the environment through tree planting. He has mobilised leaders and the community to engage in a tree planting race whose target is to increase tree cover in Kaptagat forest and other areas of the North Rift region. The campaign dubbed “tree planting marathon challenge” was launched in Kaptagat forest, Elgeyo Marakwet County. The inaugural challenge saw County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Lands, Water and Environment Abraham Barsosio crowned the first champion having planted 17 trees in less than two minutes. The event presided over by the Environment and Forestry PS Chris Kiptoo was attended by local leaders and other guests.

The concept of the challenge is about participants planting as many trees as possible within a stipulated period of time.

The PS encouraged Kenyans to engage in agroforestry activities in farms to increase forest cover in the country. He said the government has set a target of planting two billion trees by 2022, which will translate to 10 per cent of forest cover nationally.

He lauded the county government of Elgeyo Marakwet for having superseded the national target which currently stands at 37% forest cover. “It is the only county that has a large forest cover in the country and whose efforts other counties should,” remarked the PS.

Kiptoo commended Kipchoge for showing interest in environmental conservation and urged other sports champions to emulate him by engaging in activities that impact communities positively. “Eliud Kipchoge is among few sportsmen that have shown interest in partnering with Kenya Forest Service in rehabilitating forests in Kenya,” noted Kiptoo.

NYANZA

No squatters will be settled in Kodera forest: Tobiko

Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Environment and Wildlife Keriako Tobiko has dismissed calls to settle squatters in the Nyanza’s Kodera forest as untenable.

The CS, who appeared before the parliamentary committee on Environment and Natural Resources, said the proposal was only aimed at derailing the government’s policy of ensuring 10 per cent forest cover.

Tobiko said the government has set a target of attaining the 10 per cent forest cover by 2022 from the current 7.2 per cent.

By Ogutu Miruka

At the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, it was not uncommon to hear people talking about a ‘postCovid-19’ world.

Indeed, a number of people, including major news outlets still hold that line of thought.

However, it is slowly dawning on most people that the pandemic has changed the world in some irreversible ways and that it is probably more relevant to talk of ‘in the wake of the pandemic’ rather than ‘post Covid-19’.

On a recent visit to Homa Bay County to pay a courtesy call on the County Executive Council Member (CECM) whose docket includes Water and Sanitation, Dickson Nyawinda, I was pleasantly surprised to find so much progress towards a more resilient infrastructure.

In fidelity to the term and essence of Value Engineering practice, the CECM in close collaboration with the Governor’s Office and his counterpart in charge of Roads, Transport and Public Works, Samuel Akoko Nyaoke has completely overhauled Water and Sanitation services provision in the County by adopting and adapting best practices from all over the globe to enhance affordable and accessible quality services.

For instance, whereas some of the best-resourced towns and cities in the continent such as Cape Town and Cairo have not experienced a smooth transition to smart meters in their water provision, Homa Bay County is quietly and successfully making the transition with wide community support and resilient infrastructure as one can see from pictures taken in selected sites.

On landing at the airport and moving towards the town centre along the market and bus stage, one is immediately struck by how clean the environment is, compared to similar smaller towns in other counties.

Indeed it is no exaggeration to imagine a lakeside Kigali of sorts while visiting Homa Bay if one were to take into account the available resources for both urban centres.

So barely had my team sat down in Nyawinda’s office before one of our delegation asked for the secret behind the cleanliness of Homa Bay Town, given our experience a few years ago of heaps and heaps of garbage in the town centre and its environs.

As the CECM delved into his approach that resulted in the remarkable results, we could not help but wonder how a senior lawyer of his calibre has transformed himself into a ‘Water and Sanitation Engineer’ cum planner/manager with such admirable results.

We learnt of his long continental experience in the transformation of the water sector that has seen him at one stage spend over seven years in Cairo working on similar undertakings.

Coupled with a passion for environmental planning and management and his indigenous roots in the region, Nyawinda and his team have been able to design responsive systems and interventions that help keep Homa Bay Town clean and supplied with fresh water by employing clear and affordable strategies that involve residents, youth, women, county workers and small businesses in sustainable ways.

For one, long before Kazi Mtaani programme, Homa Bay was divided into regions for purposes of cleaning and area residents organised into teams that are paid monthly to keep their own living or working quarters clean.

Among residents paid by the County Government are people working at the bus stage who select women and youth among themselves that are tasked with the responsibility of cleaning the passenger terminus.

Their inspector was chosen among themselves and they would then clean the bus stage regularly and as often as necessary to keep the place hygienic while getting paid salaries as employees.

The County Government provides skipper services to collect the waste while also overseeing the quality of the work.

The same approach has been applied in all quarters of the town and the results speak for themselves.

In a nutshell, just in this one particular intervention, the Department was able to nip in the bud the tendency to have cowboy contractors who charge an arm and a leg for waste collection and cleaning services without delivering value for money.

Similarly, in order to rein in non-revenue water, the County, as earlier mentioned, has introduced consumer-friendly prepaid water meters that work excellently for the rural communities. Consumers are armed with pre-loaded cards that enable them to buy water from smart tanks that automatically read cash balances on the cards to supply precise units of 20 litres each at only five Kenya shillings.

Among other advantages, the approach ensures zero water loss, is resistant to pilfering, and is quite easy to monitor for vendors, users and the County Government.

As an Engineer and a Professor of Public and Development

Management, the little that I saw in Homa Bay convinces me that the lakeside town is on the right track regarding resilient water and sanitation technologies in the wake of Covid-19 and beyond.

The last decade has seen an emergence and re-emergence of a number of public health threats in the form of highly infectious diseases such as SARS, EVD and

Covid-19.

The common thread on management of the mentioned diseases is the requirement of enhanced sanitation.

For example, in management of facilities during the Covid-19 pandemic, the interventions discussed here capture two key elements.

First, data sharing of cases and incidences of infections of end users; this ensures a track and place policy instrumental in required quarantine measures.

Second, facilities need to be modularized into a series of semiindependent and self-isolated compartment units to avoid crosscontamination.

I believe similar towns to Homa Bay may have something to learn here.

Miruka is an Engineer and Professor of Public and Development Management. He is the Founder and Practice Leader at Turp Consulting, a specialist Project Management company.

Why Homa Bay is as clean as Kigali

The 650 million Kendu Bay water sanitation project that has improved the town’s outlook. Photo/courtesy

The devil’s invention that is Mzima Springs aquifer

By Pascal Mwandambo

Mzima Springs, the main water source for the coastal city of Mombasa and surrounding areas is also a major tourist attraction site which should be jealously guarded.

Forever bubbling with life, it is a wonder to behold which is like a mystic fountain in an area that is perennially hot and dry.

Located in Tsavo West National Park, the springs are a major tourist attraction site with a breathtaking scenic view where visitors in need of enjoying a picnic can have a treat of a lifetime.

Visitors from tourist facilities such as Ngulia and Kilaguni Safari lodges usually crown their tour of the park by visiting the springs.

At the springs, visitors can also behold the awe inspiring famous Shetani (Devil) lava flows that derived its name from the traditional belief that volcanic activity that led to its formation was the work of evil destructive force.

Folklore in the area claims that on certain quiet nights, the screams of those who perished during the volcanic activity more than 500 years ago when the earth heaved with fire and molten rock, burying hundreds of people alive can still be heard.

From Mzima, one can also view the bewitching Chyullu hills and the Five Sisters, small volcanic mountains which are products of the Shetani lava flows.

Daily, the Mzima springs gushes out thousands of litres of crystal clear water that feeds coastal counties with the precious commodity.

Visitors to the springs are usually thrilled by a glass house constructed smack in the middle of the springs lake, where once inside, they can view fish dancing as if in an aquarium as well as hippos moving leisurely or snooze in the clear water.

There are also hundreds of mischievous monkeys which can be seen jumping from branch to branch of the acacia trees surrounding the springs.

All the wild animals, be they small or big, troop to the springs to quench their thirst, giving tourists and visitors an opportunity to view them at close range and take pictures.

Being the single most important source of water for the Coast region, the Mzima pipeline has been a cause of a lot of tension for coastal counties because of inadequate water to meet needs of the ever growing population.

The Mzima 1 pipeline, constructed in 1952, is now succumbing to age, leading to frequent bursts and leakages which cause water shortages in TaitaTaveta County and other towns along the pipeline all the way to Mombasa.

Such a key water source that is both a tourist attraction and a source of water for thousands of Coastal people need to be protected and jealousy guarded.

However, selfish politics has always come by way of proposed development around the water source and neighbouring counties claiming ownership of the springs.

Tension erupted a couple of years ago when leaders from TaitaTaveta and Makueni counties claimed ownership of the water source.

On the other hand, the proposed Mzima Two pipeline has remained a pipe dream for the last two decades with political aspirants using it as a vote hunting bait.

Hippos have found a comfortable home at Mzima Springs. Photo/Pascal Mwandambo

ICRAF caution on ‘thirsty’ blue gum tree

Farmers have continued to plant blue gum trees despite the environmental dangers they pose to the ecosystem, according to the International Centre for Research in Agroforestry (ICRAF).

In 2006, scientists from ICRAF warned against planting of eucalyptus and pine trees on riparian land citing high consumption of water, hence resulting in diminishing underground water.

Most farmers have, however, continued to plant the tree species due to the handsome financial returns in total disregard to the environmental conservation protocols.

“Eucalyptus has long been blamed for their ‘thirst’ for ground water, owing to their long tap roots, and there is scientific evidence that the species could dry up water bodies,” says ICRAF.

- Our Reporter

Nairobi Water Company goes digital to combat corruption

By Staff Reporter

The Covid-19 pandemic has come with its fair share of challenges resulting in a slowdown of economic activities in the country, as the Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company (NCWSC) enhances service delivery to meet client expectations.

The NCWSC board has developed robust framework to upscale service delivery to clients in the next six months through automation and use of modern technology to inprove numerous functions of the firm’s operations.

The framework includes automation of water payment bills, meter reading and disconnection among other key functions undertaken by the Nairobi city water and sewerage company.

The firm has gone as step further and asked clients to apply for water and sewer connections online from the comfort of their homes, office desks or anywhere without necessarily having to be physically present at the NCWSC offices.

Communication channels have now been opened to ensure clients access the company’s services conveniently and hence in the long run eradicate frequent water related complaints that have been a challenge in the recent past. Nairobi residents will now be able to report corruption cases that make service delivery a nightmare resulting in delayed or lack of services.

The board has also vowed to eradicate water cartels and only eligible suppliers will undergo inspection and approval before being allowed to carry on with water trading activities in the city.

NCWSC will also minimize losses due to non-revenue water from the current 36 per cent to 25 per cent.

Infrastructural upgrade is another area that the firm’s board of directors is looking into to ensure seamless flow of water into residential homes and commercial premises, including the informal settlements.

Infrastructure

The board, in liaison with the Office of the President through the Nairobi Metropolitan Services, and the African Union High Representative for infrastructure development, is committed to ensuring that there is increased water supply to Nairobi County.

Currently, water supply to the city and its suburbs stands at 35 per cent, less than the overall demand, hence resulting in the water rationing that has been experienced by residents for a long time.

Board Chairperson Beryl Okumu says that the company will actualise the Northern Collector Tunnel project under construction by the national government through Athi Water Works Development Authority and build two more dams at Maragua and Ndarugo.

This bold initiative, she says, will ensure attainment of the year 2026 adequate water supply projections to meet the needs of the ever increasing demand.

In a statement, the chairperson noted: “We will ensure that water is easily and seamlessly supplied to our low income and vulnerable people especially in the informal settlements. We are already giving free water through tankers and boreholes.”

“Those living in the informal settlements must unconditionally get water especially in the current Covid-19 circumstances and beyond,” she said.

This is as a result of the deplorable living conditions of those in the informal settlement who lack access to adequate clean water,” she added.

The Ministry of Health, through its daily Covid-19 updates by the Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe, has emphasized the need to wash hands on a regular basis with running water and soap at home, business premises and public institutions, hence the need for adequate water supply.

Renewal of water and sewerage infrastructure remains a critical concern, hence the need for the firm to source for external funds to sustain the project.

So far NCWSC has managed to secure Sh18 billion from the national government for sewers extension and upgrade in the city and the targeted areas are Kawangware, Kangemi, Riruta, Waithaka, Kasarani, Embakasi among others.

The Nairobi City Water company has also embarked on the overall renewal of the water piping infrastructure that is old especially in major Nairobi estates and some major supply lines.

The reticulation pipe recently successfully repaired by the NCWSC staff members in the Aberdares forest was laid in the 1950s.

Some of the water sources that supply water through the NCWSC and need to be guarded for uninterrupted water supply have been identified as Thika dam, Ruiru dam, Kikuyu springs and Sasumua dam.

Separately, a spot check on the company’s website by The Water World newspaper led us to an interactive tab under the banner ‘online services,’ where, a client is expected to register and access the various services offered by the water company as highlighted in this print edition.

Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company is an ISO 9001 certified institution that is purely tasked with providing water and sewerage services to the residents of Nairobi.

NCWSC Managing Director Nahashon Muguna.

Nairobi residents will now be able to report corruption cases that make service delivery a nightmare resulting in delayed or lack of services.

Waste disposal guidelines to stop Covid-19 spread

By Sammy Munoko

Poor disposal of Covid-19 personal protective gear waste can be the cause of more infections of the virus even after successful isolation of patients.

Since the first coronavirus case was reported in March this year, there has been an increase in the use of personal protective equipment (PPEs). But the waste generated by the PPEs is not being effectively disposed off, which can contribute to the spread of the disease.

It is for this reason that the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has developed National guidelines for the management of Covid-19 waste.

According to the guidelines released in August 2020, the Authority’s effort is channelled towards sustainable management of waste through securing, packaging, storage and proper disposal of biomedical and all other medical related waste during this Covid-19 period within the country to ensure a clean and safe environment.

NEMA Director General Mamo B. Mamo, who ratified the guidelines, said most of the PPEs are only used once and disposed off, which calls for caution in handling such waste.

“Most of the items, such as face masks, surgical gloves, sanitizer bottles, soap bottles and other related medical waste, are single use and can pose both cross infections and environmental risk. These guidelines seek to enhance public engagement

Mamo B. Mamo, NEMA Director-General.

on the management of Covid-9 related biomedical waste which has become a huge menace in the country,” he said.

Mamo called for individual responsibility in promotion of environmental management and sustainable biomedical waste management in line with the waste management regulatory framework espoused in the public health and environment waste management regulations of 2006 and internationally acceptable health standards in order to curb spread of Covid-19 pandemic in the country.

He said the increased use of the PPEs has led to massive generation of waste that is infectious.

Safety

“The protective and safety materials are being used across the country in hospitals, shopping places, offices, and homes,” he said.

In general, of the total amount of waste generated by health-care activities, about 85 per cent is noninfectious while 15 per cent is considered infectious material that may be toxic or radioactive, he said. The other key types of waste to be brought under control by NEMA include: Pathological, chemical, heavy metals and pharmaceuticals wastes. The wastes can effectively be disposed through incineration, shredding and chemical disinfection. After the first case of coronvirus was reported in Kenya in March, the government outlined prevention measures which every person is expected to adhere to which include use of personal protective equipment such as face masks to curb further spread, use of surgical gloves for protection against surfaces or items contaminated with the virus, use of alcohol based sanitizers for cleaning the virus from hands or surfaces and the use of soaps for handwashing. “Coronavirus can survive for a long time on surfaces and therefore used masks, gloves and other items may become new sources of infections if not well managed and for this reason dumpsites and recyclable waste cannot be overlooked,” warned the DG.

Constant disinfection must be emphasized to ensure a coronavirus transmission free society.

The Ministry of Health will engage licensed companies to collect, transport and do the final disposal of medical waste in order to rid the public health centres of waste PPEs that are potentially harmful to both attendants and patients.

The quarantine centres have also been engaged by the MoH to ensure adherence to the waste handling and disposal procedures while undertaking their operations.

Constant disinfection must be emphasized to ensure coronavirus transmission free society.

Careless disposal of used face masks can contribute to further spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

KVDA donates protective gear to NOREB counties

Kerio Valley Development Authority (KVDA) has donated Covid-19 protective gear worth more than Sh10 million to counties within the North Rift Economic Block (NOREB).

The KVDA Managing Director (MD), Sammy Naporos said the donation to the eight counties was meant to supplement the national and county government’s efforts to combat the pandemic

Naporos handed over the consignment that included 42, 000 face masks, hand sanitizers, water tanks and gloves among other items to the NOREB Chairman, Jackson Mandago in Eldoret recently

- Dennis Bett

Kapenguria floods disrupt water supply to residents

Residents of Kapenguria were shocked when they woke up and found out that water pump at Talau area had been extensively damaged by floods

According to Mr. Koibei (pictured) the Director of Kapenguria water and sewerage Services Company, heavy rains pounded the highlands of Lelan, Siyoi, Kaibos, Kapkecha and the Cherangani hills resulting in floods.

-Martin Ruto

MACHAKOS

Invest in solid waste management, PS urges private sector

By Staff Reporter

Ministry of Environment and Forestry Principal Secretary Dr Chris Kiptoo has called on the private sector to help in managing the solid waste problem in the country.

Dr Kiptoo has said the waste is a menace that affects most cities and major towns in the country leading to setting up of dumpsites, which are a health risk to people.

Speaking when he toured a waste recycling plant - Sanergy in Athi River, he urged the private sector to venture into the business of recycling to create opportunities and resources from the garbage.

He said the ministry had developed the Waste Management Policy and Bill that will prioritise extraction of maximum value from waste if passed into law.

Director of Environmental Education and Awareness Dr Ayub Macharia said the proposed Bill intends to create many jobs for Kenyans in the waste industry through waste recycling and composting.

Sanergy Managing Director Michael Lwoyelo said last year, Sanergy treated 12,000 tonnes of waste and is targeting to scale up its operations capacity to process about 70,000 tonnes of waste per year.

Environment PS, Dr. Chris Kiptoo plants a tree at City Park in Nairobi to commemorate the World Desertfication and Drought Day on 17th June 2020.

Photo/Staff

Reporter

Group protests Court ruling on Ogiek’s right to live in Mau forest

By Ben Leshau

A Mau conservation group has petitioned Environment Cabinet Secretary Keriako Tobiko over alleged wanton destruction of Sasimuani section of Maasai Mau forest by intruders calling themselves members of the Ogiek community.

The Centre for Mau Forest Conservation and Restoration, led by its Director Patu Naikumi in a letter dated July 10, decried what he termed as invasion of the forest for charcoal, timber and poles destroying hundreds of acres of the key water tower.

“We are alarmed by the wanton and reckless destruction of the Maasai Mau Forest at Sasimuan.The section of the forest is now depleted as the unscrupulous people who are now leasing it for charcoal burners and timber merchants,” said Naikumi.

He claimed that the invasion of the forest came as a result of an Africa Court ruling that favoured the Ogiek Community to settle at the Mau Forest complex and practice their traditional economic activities of hunting and gathering.

“The African Court of Justice vindicated the Ogiek people right to their land and traditional way of life, but there are significant obstacles of continued destruction of the Maasai Mau Forest destruction that will adequately impede enforcement of the court judgement,”claimed Naikumi.

The conservator also claimed that the Sasimuani has been turned into agro-forestry businesses, charcoal burning and a hub for felling of indigenous trees for timber that has subsequently led to establishment of agricultural activities in the area.

In the letter, Naikumi also called on the Ogiek community to adhere to sustainable forest management practices that support their traditional livelihoods as prescribed by the court.

“Delay for the Ministry of Environment task force to release recommendations and subsequent implementation,will prolong the reckless wanton destruction of the forest at Sasimuani,” he warned.

The Centre for Mau Forest Conservation and Restoration said the African Court ruling was no longer tenable given the introduction of Agro-business in Sasimuani.

The move came barely a week after the government evicted hundreds of families from Eastern part of the Mau forest in neighbouring Nakuru county.

Kenya Forest Service (KFS) officers guarding Maasai Mau forest that has been hit by wanton destruction of indigeous trees. Photo/Ben Leshau

Pastoralists urged to venture into small-scale farming

NAROK

By Bell Pere

Pastoralists communities have been encouraged to invest in kitchen gardens to increase availability of food in dry seasons.

Devolution Principal Secretary Charles Sunkuli said the government is committed to helping livestock farmers practise modern farming by offering training and inputs required for small scale farming.

Sunkuli spoke at Kone Primary School in Loita ward, Narok South sub-county where he distributed food worth Sh9.5 million to five sub-locations in the ward.

The food given by the national government included 600 bags of rice and 600 bags of beans. More than 1,000 face masks will also be distributed to the most vulnerable families in the area.

The PS, who was accompanied by Tourism Principal Secretary Fred Segor, said the donation from the national government was aimed at boosting the livelihoods of the pastoralist community during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The food, he said, will be distributed by the chiefs and village elders who are expected to identify the most vulnerable families which should be given the first priority.

He urged the community to follow guidelines of the department of Health to avert the spread of coronavirus.

At the same time, the PS warned residents against engaging in retrogressive cultural practices that hinder development.

The tourism PS said his department will employ more rangers to reduce rising cases of humanwildlife conflict experienced in the area in the recent past.

He said that since 2014, the government had paid Sh120 million to Narok residents as compensation for relatives killed by wild animals and Sh10 million was given ito compensate those injured by wild animals.

Segor however called on the residents to fence their farms and homesteads to keep off the animals from entering their premises.

The tourism PS lauded the conservancies for doing a great job in containing the animals which, he said, are a great pride and resource to the nation.

PS for Devolution Charles Sunkuli planting a tree at Kone primary school in Loita. Photo/Bell Pere

VIHIGA 200,000 residents to get clean water: Ottichilo

More than 200,000 residents of Vihiga County will be connected to clean water by the end of next year, Governor Wilber Ottichilo has said.

He spoke during an inspection tour of the Sh1.7 billion Maseno water project that is funded by the government of Belgium.

The project was halted in March due to the outbreak of the Coronavirus.

“Water is a vital commodity for people and food production and that is why I pledged to end its shortage during the 2017 campaign,” Ottichillo said.

He said the project that is 90 per cent complete will produce 5,000 cubic metres daily and will serve residents of Luanda and Emuhaya sub-counties plus Maseno University.

The project will use solar panels to pump water at the Maseno, Lunyerere and Shamakhokho plants.

- Correspondent

KISUMU KIWASCO signs sewerline deal with Chatthe Group

By Erick Nyayiera

Kisumu Water and Sanitation Company (KIWASCO) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Chatthe Group to undertake construction of sewer network from the Kenya Ports Authority sewer manhole to the company in Kisumu City. The MOU was signed in July.

KIWASCO Managing Director Thomas Odongo appreciated the Chatthe Group environmental conservation role.

The project intends to ensure that all institutions and households around Kibos and Kenya Ports Authority are connected to the main sewer network and waste is appropriately disposed of.

This will go a long way in reducing pollution in River Kibos, and consequently, reduce occurrence of diseases as a result of poor disposal of waste.

KIWASCO recently also entered into a partnership with Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI) in bid to enhance water quality and aquatic environment management.

WEST POKOT Kapenguria town lacks sewerage line, dumpsite

By Correspondent

Fast population growth and development of residential and business premises in Kapenguria town has raised the need of a sewerage line.

Waste disposal is a big challenge for the county government and water sources managed by the Kapenguria Water and Sewerage Services Company.

There have been several attempts by relevant agencies to convince residents to provide land for sewerage treatment plant and the process is ongoing.

The company has urged people to construct septic tanks which will collect the waste products as it expedites constructing ovens which will process the waste products into solid blocks to be used as charcoal.

The company transports the waste products from the county to Trans Nzoia where the materials are processed into other useful products.

KAJIADO Kajiado water harvesting law comes into force

By Staff Reporter

Kajiado County residents will from November be expected to install water harvesting and storage facilities on their buildings.

This follows a grace period of three months given after Governor Joseph ole Lenku signed the Water Harvesting Bill into law in August.

The Bill, which is the brainchild of nominated Member of County Assembly Onesmus Ngogoyo (pictured), requires all new buildings to be fitted with water harvesting facilities while owners of existing buildings will be required to instal the infrastructure within 18 months.

The new Water Harvesting Act will ensure adequate water is harvested and stored to curb perennial water shortage challenges.

The Governor described the water Bill as a transformative legislation for the county since inception of devolution.

Ngogoyo said: “The Law provides for the County Government to construct water pans, wells and protect water sources to conserve water.”

The County Government will foot 50 per cent of the bill for construction of water harvesting and storage equipment for public institutions such as schools and hospitals.

BUNGOMA Wangamati launches drilling rigs

By Tony Wafula

Bungoma Governor Wycliffe Wangamati has launched a water drilling rig to alleviate water shortage in the county.

Speaking at St. Peters Siboti Secondary School where he launched the project, Wangamati said they will now drill 45 boreholes in the entire county to serve residents.

Sirisia and Bumula sub-counties, which are the most affected by water shortages, will be given priority.

The county government resolved to purchase its own drilling equipment instead of procuring the services from contractors to save on cost.

“This machine can drill water to a level of 350 metres underground but we are lucky water in Bungoma is less than100 metres deep,’’ he said.

The County government is also developing the Sh80 million Mt. Elgon water tower project, which will serve residents in the lower areas of Chwele, Sirisia and Kabuchai.

Meanwhile, teachers and pupils at St. Peters Secondary School Siboti, Bumula Sub-County in Bungoma County shed tears of joy when GovernorWycliffe Wangamati launched a water drilling project at the institution.

Chief Principal Wenslaus Masika said the water shortage at the school and the entire Siboti area was a big challenge.

“I use parents and students to bring water to school and this is now a relief,’’ he said.

The water project will also serve the neighbouring community. Siboti residents walk for more than 7kms to fetch water which puts female students in danger of being attacked apart from time wastage, he said.

The Board of Management Chair Peninah Namusasi welcomed the project.

Governor Wycliffe Wangamati inspecting newly acquired Bungoma County borehole drilling equipment. Photo/Tony Wafula

Our Reporter

KAJIADO County to double Kiserian dam capacity

The Kajiado County Government is fast-tracking the increase of Kiserian dam water handling capacity from 1.2 million to 2.5 million cubic liters.

The move is expected to ensure adequate water supply to Oloolaiser Water and Sewerage Company (OWSC) for further distribution to end users in Kajiado North and Kajiado West sub counties.

Kajiado Governor Joseph Ole Lenku endorsed the desalination and expansion of the mega Kiserian dam in order to meet the high water demand when he visited the area last month.

He directed the water company to review and restructure its internal systems and stop the frequent water disconnections.

“Reliable supply of water by Oloolaiser is not negotiable. Our people need clean and fresh water without further delay,” he said.

OWSC has four main water sources namely Kiserian dam, Mbagathi River, 18 boreholes and two springs (University and Oltiyani) and it produces approximately 7,500m3 per day with a customer base of 11,262 connections.

Currently, the company has 7,460 active and 3,622 inactive connections and operates 35 water kiosks in Ongata Rongai, Ngong, Kiserian and KaharaMatasia.

A section of the Kiserian dam.

KISII Kisii County Govt addresses environmental challenges

By Enock Okong’o

Car washing sheds constructed by the Kisii county government are among the major polluters of rivers in the region.

In Kisii town and its environs, the sheds constructed at Nyanchwa Springs, Daraja Mbili and Daraja Moja by the government are at the riverside. Calls by residents to the county government to keep the environment safe have been ignored.

They say the county government has embarked on the development in disregard of taking care of the environment.

The county government through the ward representatives has now agreed to set aside money to protect the water springs.

The initiative has, however. seen MCAs accuse some of those constructing the springs of poor workmanship.

The rivers are a health hazard because the water is also used by market attendants.

Aquatic creatures like crabs, water beetles, tadpoles and fish that contribute to the symbiotic environmental balance are also endangered.

County government critics say it ought to have consulted widely with environment experts before its establishment of the sheds despite the fact the initiative was to create employment for the youth.

Elgeyo Marakwet Elgeyo Marakwet sets up team to reclaim wetlands

By Philemon Kiprop

A special committee will be tasked with reclaiming wetlands grabbed in Elgeyo Marakwet County.

People who grabbed the wetlands have been directed to leave the water catchment areas to facilitate the reclamation

County Commissioner Ahmed Omar said the committee comprising of county and national government officers, will look at original title deeds to identify areas illegally acquired by grabbers.

Speaking at Kiprira swamp where 1,000 acres have been grabbed, he said proper documentation will assist the county deal with rampant encroachment of wetlands.

“We will ask the Cabinet Secretary for Lands to revoke illegal title deeds and provide a lasting solution to this problem,” he said.

Omar said reclaimed areas will be marked by beacons to stop encroachment and also asked chiefs to arrest persons found farming on wetlands.

The meeting was called after residents of Kabiemit location in Keiyo South sub-county stopped a settler who had started cultivating the Kiprira swamp.

The alleged grabber produced a title deed for the piece of land and even threatened to go to court to sue the residents.

The residents accused some officials of issuing illegal title deeds to grabbers.

The County Police Commander John Mwinzi assured residents that they will be protected because the place was a wetland and therefore belonged to the public.

Ministry donates medical equipment to Nakuru County

By Our Reporter

The Ministry of Environment and Forestry has donated Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to the County Government of Nakuru to strengthen national waste management efforts, in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic.

Donations include key functional items for the full waste management process from triage to disposal, as well as personal protective equipment (PPEs).

Speaking while handing over the equipment at Nakuru Level 5 hospital, Environment PS Chris Kiptoo said the donation comes at an opportune moment when the country is experiencing the Covid-19 pandemic.

The PS said the offer will ensure sound healthcare disposal technologies through the adoption of Best Available Technology (BAT) and Best Environmental Practices (BEP).

The PS said waste management equipment and two incinerators purchased with financing from Global Environment Facility (GEF), at a cost of 80 million will benefit Nakuru Level 5, Molo and Naivasha hospitals.

Apart from Nakuru, the equipment will be distributed to 13 pilot health centres in Kisumu, Mombasa, and Nairobi counties.

The PS was accompanied by Nakuru County Governor Lee Kinyanjui and UNDP Country Representative Walid Badawi.

Nakuru Governor, Lee Kinyanjui.

TAITA TAVETA Voi residents urged to protect indigenous trees

By Dominic Maraga

Voi sub county residents have been urged to help conserve endangered indigenous trees in public and private farm forests.

Speaking at his Voi office the Sub-County Forest Officer Raphael Mlacha said indigenous trees were getting depleted due to the quality of wood they produce.

He said trees like Acacia, Mvule and Tamalia Prenoid among others are among the highly endangered species.

He said logs are used in kilns for burning bricks, charcoal and other personal benefits leading to the extinction of the indigenous trees.

“We are worried over the rate at which people are cutting down these indigenous trees for their personal benefit because they produce quality wood and expensive charcoal,” said Mlacha.

He said the trees should be protected because most of the endangered species are used for medicinal purposes.

Harsh weather conditions and both domestic and wild animals also continue to pose great challenge to forest cover in the Sub-county.

“We raise seedlings here and give them out to institutions, individuals and privately owned forests to help increase the forest cover in the sub county,” he said.

Only people with permits who meet set guidelines from the department are allowed to cut trees and where necessary an officer is sent to check the trees.

Deforestation hampers beekeeping

By Lydia Ngoolo

Kitui County is set to upscale honey production through enhancing water basins and setting up tree nurseries although deforestation has become a major challenge.

County value chain addition specialist, Temi Mutia says deforestation is a major challenge to high honey production.

He however assured farmers that they will succeed through value addition.

“We are only remaining with few tree species because of massive cutting for charcoal burning which reduces pollination,” said Mutia.

He urged youths to join cooperatives in order to scale up bee-keeping in the county.

Kiomo-Kyethani Bee Keepers Co-operative Chairman Stephen Kioko thanked the county government for training bee keepers to increase quantity and quality of honey.

The cooperatives have received harvesting buckets, smokers, bee suits among other relevant equipment from the

Kitui County value chain addition specialist Temi Mutia with bee-keeping farmers in Mwingi. Photo/Lydia Ngoolo

county government. Kioko said the County has five bee farmer cooperatives with over 10,000 members and 100,000 beehives where 70 per cent are colonized.

Run-off water solution to Kenya’s woes?

By Ngugi Njoroge

Despite having huge rainwater potential estimated to be more than 350 billion cubic metres, Kenya is letting the critical resource drain away to the Indian Ocean.

Unfortunately, some of the barriers in harvesting the unexploited runoff rainwater are attributable to archaic laws which prohibit commercial and residential premises to invest in rainwater.

For example, rooftop rainwater harvesting is prohibited in Nairobi by authorities because it is seen as competing with the Nairobi water company, which earns income from selling water as a utility provider.

But according to experts like Maimbo Malesu, the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF’s) Program me Co-ordinator for Water Management, if rainwater is captured and managed, the water is enough to support a population of 233 million people or close to five times the current population of Kenya.

Rain floods at Kianjai in Tigania West. Photo/John Majau

This gains urgency considering, Kenya is considered a water scarce country. Its per capita water availability is less than 600 cubic metres, which is below the global threshold of 1,000 cubic metres per capita.

While Nairobi County is lagging behind, neighbouring counties are already blazing the trail in putting in place the right environment for rain water harvesting.

As a way of enhancing its capacity to cater for its demands, grow more food, produce electricity and facilitate nurturing of the biodiversity, Kajiado County on August 4, 2020 made it mandatory for new private and commercial buildings to have water harvesting and storage facilities before their plans are approved.

The new Act by Governor Joseph ole Lenku has, however, stated that there will be no extra charges for the new building approvals.

“There will be 90 days’ grace period given while existing buildings will be required to comply in 18 months,” he said at the Kajiado County offices.

Bearing in mind that Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company is facing numerous challenges in serving close to five million residents, Nairobi Metropolitan Service (NMS) Director General Mohammed Badi can borrow a leaf from his neighbour’s book to end the suffering of the residents, according to experts.

Satisfy demand

Malesu earlier indicated that Nairobi water security, in terms of meeting demand and storage capability, is very low and more avenues need to be explored to satisfy demand.

“The city has to meet a demand of 770,000 cubic metres a day. Its current supply is 550,000 per day. But only half gets to the public as about 40 per cent is lost on account of non-revenue water,” he noted.

Nairobi Water Managing Director Eng Nahashon Muguna, however, had not commented on whether the company should embrace harvesting of rainwater by the time of going to press.

The World Agroforestry Centre has been promoting rainwater harvesting in sub-Saharan Africa through a southern and Eastern Africa network.

If Kenya were to take into account good rainwater harvesting practices, Malesu noted, it would not only ensure the country has sufficient water to meet its needs in the dry periods, but would also ensure when it does rain, the risk of damage and flooding is less.

The government and partners from the development and business communities in 2017 launched the Kenya chapter of the Billion Dollar Alliance for Rainwater Harvesting, a continent-wide, multi-actor alliance designed to scale up farm pond technology for agribusiness and livelihood resilience for dryland farming systems.

The partnership was led by the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), which hosted the launch event, and the World Food Programme, and includes the co-operation of the national government and private sector partners.

Water scarcity has been earmarked as a critical constraint to the country’s socio-economic development and achievement of Kenya’s Vision 2030 as well as the global development agenda detailed in the Sustainable Development Goals.

The situation is exacerbated by climate change and increasing water demand due to population growth and urbanisation.

Tana River boat people restore ancient kingship

By Amoto Dennis

Jubilation rent the air across the chocolate coloured waters of the mighty River Tana as Mzee Abdullahi Waldessa piloted the ceremonial twin dugout canoe to the right flank. The special canoe pierced through the dancing surf before the flyover headed for a cultural ceremony for the Wailuwana community also known as the boat people.

They are a small community numbering 21,432 people among Tana River County’s 315,943 residents but who have maintained their traditional way of life.

Donning a red fez, signifying his cultural duties, the Wailuwana King, Babisani Ramadhani Divayu, and an all male council of elders sat in the boat.

In a deep baritone voice, they sang a hymn that blended with voices of hundreds devoted subjects whose weight and thudding feet threatened to tear the bridge’s floor.

A decade ago, the boat people navigated the same route, when reviving the kingship to seek identity.

British colonialists abolished the reign of King Babisani’s predecessor Hayu Duke Makaruka in 1938.

Hayuship was a rallying point against the colonial government and the temporal deity Makaruka wielded more powers over his subjects than the colonialists. The two centres of powers couldn’t coexist but Wailuwana known, derogatorily as ‘Malokote,’ have revived, the Hayuship 70 years later.

Restoration was a unifying ground to seek identity and retain a cultural landscape.

The theme was revitalization, preservation, and promotion of Wailuwana culture for desirable behaviour and community development. The Wailuwana say, though they are of Bantu lineage, speaking a Swahili Bantu dialect, they are distinctive from those originating from the Congo forest.

They claim to have sailed from Comoro Isles across, the Indian Ocean to Ungwana Bay and landed in Kipini.

They then boated northwards, settling in hamlets known as Gaza or Daido in Garsen, Chewele, Mui, Nanigi and Sala along River Tana.

To the Wailuwana ‘boat people’ River Tana is as sacred as River Ganges is to the Hindus. They call it Galena Maro and it is their lifeline..

The river is used for many cultural rites, including child naming ceremonies and other functions in the Wailuwana community.

After birth, a child stays indoors for 40 days after birth (Hirimani) after which a relative of good character walks out the infant outdoors for baptism.

An elaborate ceremony follows as the 40 day old baby is taken for riverine initiation in ‘holy’ River Tana waters.

A parent who infringes the Hirimani rites is treated as being unfaithful and faces punitive measures by a jury trial.

Waliuwana Chief Justice Lady Hadula Jilo said the convict can be banished from their beloved riverside abode.

“This earns the offender societal ridicule where all and sundry share nothing with the victim even talking, until cleansing is done,’’ said Lady Hadula, adding that the offender can be fined.

In contrast, a faithful couple after the ceremonial Hirimani 40 days often throws a party for folk blessing and makes merry after visiting the ‘holy’ River Tana. Wailuwana Chanamaro (Riverines), who pay dowry using beehives, are protected from drowning or being harmed by any riverine beast through divine powers. To the boat people, River Tana is a place for solace, and when in danger, they often rush into its waters for safety. Safety apart, in the yesteryears eight or more dugout canoes were twined together, with a house built atop for a bride and bridegroom after marriage.

Aides would cruise the holy Tana waters for a seven day travel on the river without stepping on land.

They carried food and some wet clay to cook aboard during the honeymoon that has been replaced by a wedding couple’s seven hours river cruise, followed by elders’ ritual blessing along the river.

Tana River County Woman Representative Rehema Hassan notes: “Our educated young nowadays ostracize girls who have undergone Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and abhor arranged marriages.’’

She said education and advocacy by the Wailuwana Council of Elders, is helping phase out FGM.

Livelihood is tailored towards riverine activities like fishing by spear-

The Wailuwana say, though they are

of Bantu lineage, ing, fish traps, farming along the river speaking a Swahili Bantu dialect, they are distinctive from and cultural tourism using the boat. Indigenous vegetation along the river is, however, now threatened by deforestation and charcoal burning. those originating from Lower Tana is home to critically the Congo forest. They claim to have endangered Mangabey and red colobus monkeys. Tana Deputy Governor Salim sailed from Comoro Keya said the Wailuwana cultural Isles across, the royalty’s roles involve arbitration, Indian Ocean to Ungwana Bay and annual cultural festival, overseeing youth matters, community history and storytelling.landed in Kipini. The Wailuwana Kingdom is guided They then boated northwards, settling in hamlets known by Hayu Babisani, a university graduate, who is deputized Hayu by Said Karan, a man well versed in the boat people’s cultural aspects. as Gaza or Daido in The boatpeople say trees breathe Garsen, Chewele, Mui, Nanigi and Sala along River Tana. life into biodiversity and deforestation kills sacred spiritually significant indigenous trees like Kote, under which they gather for prayer.

Members of the Waliuwana community in a procession during a festival in Madogo. Photo/ Dennis Amoto

NEMA blocks firms’ bid to establish multi-million farms in Amboseli

By Abdi Hussein

husseinabdi527@gmail.com

The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has not approved the multimillion agri-business farms within the Amboseli Ecosystem in Kajiado County in line with the new Amboseli Ecosystem Management Plan (AEMP) 2020-2030.

Several companies and individuals had applied for permits to carry out agriculture within the Kimana wildlife circuit that comprises several private wildlife conservancies and the Amboseli National Park.

Some private developers had already sub-divided some of the land and began farming as small urban centres and villages cropped up, greatly reducing the area available for wildlife and pastoralism in the ecosystem.

Among the areas that are affected is the Kaputei area that is heavily settled and fenced leading to the virtual collapse of wildlife migratory patterns.

Namelok and Kimana swamps, the Lolturesh River, all the way down to the Soit Pus Swamp and areas around Iltilal have also been subdivided, settled and farmed.

To safeguard the wildlife and tourism in the area, stakeholders recently developed the management plan that has been enacted into law and is awaiting gazettement by the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife,

The plan protects migratory routes and spells out specific land use in various parts but restricts farming activities within the Kimana wildlife circuit.

Kajiado NEMA director Joseph Kopejo told The Water World that they rejected the proposals after realizing the proposed farms are within the restricted areas as per Ecosystem plan.

Both local and foreign developers have acquired big chunks of land planning to set up multimillion Agri-business farming enterprises

“We have so far rejected two multimillion proposed agricultural farms and we are analysing documents of three other companies which have applied for the same,” said Kopejo.

A warning has been issued to individuals conducting farming in the area without NEMA approvals and some farms might be forced to halt operations.

“NEMA will not be used as a rubber stamp by selfish individu-

The Amboseli Ecosystem Plan

It is an integrated plan that outlines how different land uses and natural resources in the, ecosystem will be managed for the greater good of all stakeholders. The plan takes a broad multi-sectoral approach on natural resources in the ecosystem against different land uses and how these interact with one another and, ultimately, how they co-exist within the ecosystem.

Various stakeholders and KWS officials collaring an elephant at Amboseli National Park Kajiado on August 12. Photo/Abdi Hussein

als. We will carry out our mandate objectively as stipulated in the law. Systems will be rolling once the plan becomes a law by act of gazettement,” added Kopejo.

According to the Chairman Amboseli Land Owners Conservancy Association (Aloca), Samuel Kaangi, land subdivision in the area continues to threaten wildlife existence.

Over the years wildlife from Amboseli National Park have roamed freely within communal ranches, some which provide wildlife migratory routes from Amboseli to Tsavo National and Kyulu Hills national parks.

Most of the ranches have over the last few years, been subdivided into private pieces of land making owners an easy prey to land speculators.

“Some people feel they have not reaped enough benefits for conserving wildlife and are now disposing of their land to developers eyeing the land for agriculture and the hospitality industry thus endangering wildlife,” said Kaangi.

Senior government officers have also been blamed for using their positions to acquire land in the conservancies despite protests from Aloca members and their leaders.

“Aloca officials have received threats from powerful people in government who work with land brokers to demand that we cede our land,” says Kaangi.

He is, however, optimistic that AEMP will be integrated with the County Spatial Plan and the County Integrated Development Plans to be more effective.

Aloca has continuously thwarted mushrooming of development projects within the Kimana circuit despite protests from land developers but land subdivision still remains the biggest challenge to the existence of Amboseli National park.

The management of private conservancies has urged the Ministry of Tourism to increase financial support to help them continue conserving wildlife on their ranches.

KWS shares proceeds from tourism with six private conservancies neighboring the Amboseli National Park.

During the World Elephant Day recently commemorated in Amboseli National Park, Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala lauded AEMP saying wildlife conservation is a collective task and promised to gazette AEMP forthwith.

Embu Water Company to buy fittings from local hardwares

By Kamundia Muriithi

Embu Water and Sanitation Company (Ewasco) has partnered with the local hardware stores to improve service delivery.

The company will now procure fittings and accessories locally, a development that is expected to reduce time taken to connect water to customers.

The company which was previously sourcing the fittings and accessories from Nairobi, will now purchase them from designated local hardware stores across the county.

The partnership is also expected to promote local businesses and enhance cordial relations with the local community

“The company will be directing its clients looking for water connection to the designated hardwares shops within their locality,” said the company’s Financial and Commercial Services Controller Dickson Njiru.

Selected hardware shops will be approved and accredited as agents of the company.

The company convened a meeting for senior Ewasco officials and the hardware partners who will be providing the fittings.

Njiru said through the partnership, the company will be able to connect water to customers within the stipulated period of one week.

Due to ongoing massive construction of residential and commercial buildings, Ewasco is expecting to make over 250 new water connections.

Njiru urged the approved hardware stores to stock high quality fittings and other accessories.

“The company will be monitoring to verify whether they will be complying, failure to which we will cancel the accreditation,” said Njiru.

Vandalism of pipes happens mostly during dry periods and the worst hit areas are the lower region of Embu where residents need water to irrigate their muguka (khat) farms.

Culprits caught pay a penalty of Sh100,000 or face three years in jail according to the Act of 2016.

Mazingira Africa drills boreholes in 15 schools

Mazingira Africa, a NonGovernmental Organisation (NGO), has initiated environmental conservation projects in 150 schools and also drilled 15 water boreholes. The organisation’s President and Founder Javan Kevins Namema says they are lobbying for sustainable environmental conservation agenda in the country through initiation of project development and stakeholder partnership.

He told The Water World that they are at the forefront of promoting environmental conservation through creation of awareness, forming unions and community support.

The NGO has undertaken several projects geared towards promotion of the forest cover in the country through the support of local communities.

“We have planted more than one million trees since 2017,” he noted.

-Our Reporter