Kenya has significantly increased its investment in water conservation to help communities address the worsening impacts of climate change, a government official announced on Wednesday.
Julius Korir, the Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Water, Sanitation, and Irrigation, emphasized that climate change is disrupting the nation’s hydrological systems, making it necessary to adopt innovative and sustainable water management strategies.
“Rainfall patterns have become increasingly unpredictable due to climate change,” Korir said during a forum in Nairobi focused on improving water security for arid and semi-arid regions.
He highlighted the concerning reality that over 40 percent of Kenya’s population lacks access to clean water and adequate sanitation facilities. This issue, he explained, has been exacerbated by rapid population growth, mismanagement of water resources, and climate-related challenges. In response, the government is prioritizing projects such as water harvesting, storage infrastructure, catchment restoration, and groundwater exploration to meet the demands of households, industries, and agriculture.
Korir also unveiled the government’s ambitious “100 dam initiative,” designed to tackle water scarcity and fortify the country’s water sector against climate shocks. These dams aim to enhance storage capacity and ensure reliable water supply even in extreme weather conditions.
Stephen Kiama, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nairobi, spoke about the devastating effects of prolonged droughts, which have intensified water stress for marginalized communities in semi-arid areas. He underscored the importance of evidence-based research and data in driving water infrastructure projects that foster economic growth, support sustainable development, and help reduce poverty.
Kiama also praised interdisciplinary research efforts over the past decade involving experts from diverse fields, such as geology, meteorology, climate science, and sociology, in formulating effective strategies to address Kenya’s chronic water scarcity.
Forum participants stressed the urgency of addressing urbanization, industrial pollution, extreme floods, and degraded water ecosystems to secure a sustainable future for Kenya.
