Kenya launches Ksh2.5B plan to restore Ewaso Ng’iro basin, boost water security
By Wanjira Wachira, July 3, 2026The Kenyan and Danish governments have launched a Ksh2.5 billion programme aimed at restoring the Ewaso Ng’iro Basin and strengthening water security for an estimated 4.1 million people who depend on the river system across central and northern Kenya.
The five-year Ewaso Ng’iro Basin Water and Climate Resilience Programme (EWCP) will focus on restoring degraded water catchments, improving climate resilience and promoting sustainable water management in Nyeri, Nyandarua, Laikipia, Meru and Isiolo counties.
Speaking during the launch in Nanyuki on Friday, July 3, 2026, Water, Sanitation and Irrigation Cabinet Secretary Eric Muriithi Mugaa said Kenya must shift its focus from simply supplying water to protecting the ecosystems that produce it.
“We have neglected the fact that water does not come from a tap. Water comes from the catchment,” Mugaa said.
The Cabinet Secretary said the programme is designed to address the growing impact of climate change on water resources, noting that recurring droughts and floods have placed increasing pressure on communities that rely on the basin.
“The project is not only about catchment restoration. It is about water harvesting, restoring ecosystems, planting trees and ensuring communities become more resilient to climate change,” he said.
Under the programme, degraded catchment areas will be rehabilitated through the planting of approximately one million trees, while households are expected to receive rainwater harvesting facilities, including storage tanks. The initiative will also support groundwater recharge, construction of water pans and other nature-based interventions aimed at improving water availability during dry seasons.
Mugaa said the government intends to channel the bulk of the investment directly to community-level activities.
“About 85 per cent of the programme’s investment will go directly to community-based interventions,” he added.
Five counties to benefit
The Ewaso Ng’iro River is one of Kenya’s most important river systems, supplying water to millions of residents while supporting agriculture, livestock production, wildlife conservation and tourism.
However, years of deforestation, land degradation, population growth and climate change have significantly reduced water flows, particularly during prolonged dry seasons.
The new programme seeks to reverse that trend by restoring forests, wetlands and other critical water catchments while strengthening local institutions responsible for managing water resources.
Speaking on behalf of the Council of Governors’ Committee on Water and Natural Resources, committee chair Joshua Irungu said the initiative recognises that protecting rivers begins with safeguarding their sources.
“We have always thought that water comes from the tap. But as the Cabinet Secretary reminded us, water begins at the source,” he said.
He said restoring catchment areas would improve water availability while supporting farming, livestock keeping and economic development across the affected counties.
Denmark backs climate resilience efforts
The programme is jointly financed by the Governments of Kenya and Denmark.
Representing Denmark at the launch, Erik Larsen Jørgensen, Sector Counsellor for Water, Environment, Energy, Research and Innovation at the Embassy of Denmark in Kenya, said rapid population growth in the lower Ewaso Ng’iro Basin has intensified pressure on available water resources.
He noted that the area’s population has expanded from about 50,000 people in 1960 to nearly one million today, increasing demand for land and water.
“This is not only about livelihoods. It is also about peace, security and stability,” he said.
Community-centred implementation
The programme will be implemented by the Water Sector Trust Fund in partnership with the national government, county governments, the Water Resources Authority, the Kenya Forest Service, Community Forest Associations and local communities.
Officials say the emphasis on community participation is intended to ensure long-term protection of water catchments while improving resilience to climate-related shocks.
The initiative comes as Kenya continues to grapple with increasingly erratic weather patterns that have seen prolonged droughts followed by destructive floods, exposing weaknesses in the country’s water management systems.
If successfully implemented, the programme is expected to improve water availability, strengthen ecosystem conservation and support livelihoods across one of Kenya’s most climate-vulnerable river basins.