Fourteen counties that form the Lake Region Economic Bloc (LREB) will share a grant of Sh6 billion from the United States Agency for International Devlopment (USAID) towards the improvement of water security, environmental management, and sustainability, as well as improving climate resilience.
USAID Kenya Mission Deputy Director Sheila Roquitte disclosed that the agency had provided $48 million in funding to the governors under LREB to support efforts in improving water security, building climate change resilience, and promoting environmental sustainability.
The financial support is aimed at enabling the region to address pressing challenges in the critical areas.
“The funding will help implement initiatives related to enhancing water access, strengthening climate resilience, and fostering sustainable environmental practices, all of which are central to the governors’ priorities ,” said Rosquitte.
The commitment from USAID underscores the importance of international partnerships in tackling the complex issues of climate change and water security the lake region.
“The $48 million provided by USAID will support governors from Lake Region Economic Bloc to review and update joint water management policies,”said Rosquitte.
He said the funding will help facilitate the ratification of new strategies aimed at enhancing water security across the region.
“Improving these policies, the governors plan to address water-related challenges, promote more efficient water use, and ensure sustainable access to clean water for all communities,” said Roquitte.
Fostering collaboration
The financial support will also play a key role in fostering collaboration between the counties to tackle water scarcity and improve the region’s water resource management.
She spoke during a two days workshop held in Kisumu at the weekend.
LREB governors issued a joint communique outlining a strong commitment to address the pressing environmental and climate challenges facing their region.
The governor’s shared focus will include the restoration and sustainability of the environment, mobilizing resources for water sector financing, and fostering collaboration across counties to enhance climate resilience and adaptation.
According to the governor’s chair in charge of Water Affairs, Hilary Barchok, who is also the Bomet Governor, some key highlights of the joint communique include environmental restoration and sustainability.
The governors emphasized the importance of restoring and sustaining the region’s ecosystems to mitigate the impacts of climate change.
They committed to mobilizing resources to support the development and expansion of water infrastructure in the region, ensuring long-term access to clean water.
In a bid to promote inter-county collaboration, the governors vowed to strengthen cooperation between counties in the Lake Region, saying this would be critical to addressing shared environmental and water-related challenges effectively.
On climate resilience and adaptation, the LREB governors plan to implement strategies for adapting to the impacts of climate change, with an emphasis on building resilient communities.
On research and innovation, Barchok said, they aim to leverage research, data, and innovative technologies to drive solutions to environmental and water sector issues.
Governors Kenneth Lusaka (Bungoma), James Orengo (Siaya), Wilbur Ottichillo ( Vihiga), Fernandes Baraza ( Kakamega), Paul Otuoma (Busia), Eric Mutai ( Kericho), Stephen Sang( Nandi), graced the event.
Deputy Governors Mathews Owili (Kisumu) and Oyugi Magwanga (Homabay ) were also in attendance.
The governors also discussed how to reduce non-revenue water and boost quality water supplies.
“We want to make efforts to reduce non-revenue water (water lost through leaks, theft, or inefficiencies), which will help improve water supply systems,” said Barchok.
Expanding Water Access in Rural Areas, the governors said, was a key priority that will enable them to expand access to safe and reliable water in rural and underserved communities.
Through these actions, the governors also aim to foster sustainable development, improve climate resilience, and enhance water security for the people in the bloc.
The Governors also emphasized the critical importance of water security, as USAID encouraged them to utilize grants for addressing water-related challenges.
One pressing issue the governors raised is the frequent arrests of fishermen around Lake Victoria, which is shared by several East African nations.
These arrests often stem from the alleged use of illegal or sophisticated fishing gear, which threatens the sustainability of the lake’s fish stocks and the livelihoods of local communities.
Such concerns underscore the need for better management and regulation of shared water resources to ensure both ecological and economic stability in the region.
Lake Victoria is shared by three East African countries, and its surface area is divided among them, with Tanzania occupying approximately 51 per cent of the lake’s surface, Uganda 43 per cent of the land and only about 6 per cent of the lake’s surface area is in Kenya.
This distribution is based on the geographical boundaries of each country in relation to the lake, with Tanzania having the largest share.
The lake is the largest in East Africa and the second-largest freshwater lake in the world by surface area.
