Using the Ecosystem to Enhance the Lives of Kenyans #WaterTowers

Different partners are coming together to support Kenya to eradicate poverty through the enhancement of the ecosystem. This is because Kenya’s ecosystem is critical in enhancing resilience to climate change of her water sources and in the process, uplifting the lives of the people.

The Program aims to improve the quality & quantity of ecosystem services provided by Kenya’s water through increased forest cover for a duration of six years from 2014 to 2020 when it will come to completion.

The European Union is main development partner in this ambitious and profitable program aimed at eradicating poverty in Kenya in conjunction with other agencies like the Ministry of environment, Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI), Kenya Wildlife Service, Kenya Water Towers Agency and Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (MENRI).

The European Union is funding the Kenya’s poverty eradication program with €31000000 (3.6 billion shillings) to support its ecosystems across the country Bungoma County, Busia County, Elgeyo Marakwet County, Kakamega County, Kisumu County, Nandi County, Siaya County, TransNzoia County and Uasin Gishu County. In these Counties, the program aims at enhancing the management of systems, capacity building, and management frameworks as well as improving the landscape.

Kenya has been identified to have five key water towers including Mount Kenya, May Forest Comples, Mount Elgon, Cherangany Hills and Aberdare Range but the program will cover two of the five that is Mount Elgon and Cherangany Hills with the overall objective of the programme being to support Kenya eradicate poverty through enhancing the productivity of her ecosystem.

460 million shillings will be allocated to Kenya Forest Service, KWTA and Kenya Wildlife Service to enhance management frameworks to implement #WaterTowers initiative. Kenya can only have a positive socio-economic & environmental sustainability if all Kenyans pulled in the same direction.