By Water East Africa Magazine
Kajiado County has launched two landmark policy frameworks aimed at strengthening water security and enhancing resilience to climate change, marking a significant milestone in the county’s efforts to address growing environmental challenges. The newly unveiled Kajiado County Water Policy 2024 and Kajiado County Climate Change Policy 2026 provide a roadmap for sustainable management of water resources while guiding climate adaptation and mitigation initiatives across the county.
The policies were officially launched after nearly three years of consultations involving county officials, technical experts, development partners and local communities. They are expected to provide a comprehensive governance framework for improving water resource management, strengthening climate action and ensuring that development planning incorporates long-term environmental sustainability.
County leaders noted that Kajiado is among Kenya’s most climate-vulnerable counties, frequently experiencing prolonged droughts, erratic rainfall and increasing pressure on limited water resources. The new policy framework seeks to improve preparedness for these challenges by promoting integrated water management, ecosystem conservation, climate-resilient infrastructure and community-based adaptation measures.
The Water Policy sets out strategies to improve access to safe and reliable water through sustainable development of water infrastructure, protection of catchment areas, efficient use of water resources and stronger institutional coordination. It also seeks to improve service delivery while ensuring equitable access to water for households, agriculture and livestock production.
Meanwhile, the Climate Change Policy establishes a framework for integrating climate considerations into county planning and budgeting. It prioritises climate adaptation, disaster risk reduction, renewable energy, ecosystem restoration and stronger collaboration among government agencies, communities, development partners and the private sector. The policy is also expected to support the county’s implementation of Kenya’s broader climate commitments and sustainable development agenda.
Development partners welcomed the launch, describing the policies as an important step towards strengthening local resilience in one of Kenya’s arid and semi-arid regions. They noted that effective implementation will help safeguard livelihoods, improve water security and enable communities to better withstand the impacts of climate change while promoting sustainable economic growth.
With climate pressures continuing to intensify across Kenya, Kajiado’s new policy framework positions the county to adopt a more coordinated and proactive approach to managing water resources and building resilience. Stakeholders emphasised that successful implementation, adequate financing and sustained community participation will be critical to translating the policies into lasting improvements in water security and climate adaptation.