Kenya’s World Water Day 2025 was marked in Laikipia with a strong call for glacier preservation, as national leaders warned that shrinking glaciers threaten water security and climate resilience.
This year’s World Water Day was commemorated in Tigithi Ward, Laikipia County, with national and local leaders raising serious concerns over the shrinking glaciers in East Africa and their impact on water security.
Led by Water, Sanitation and Irrigation Cabinet Secretary Eng. Eric Mugaa, the event, held at Tigithi Secondary School grounds, focused on the urgent need for collaborative water conservation efforts amid growing scarcity and climate stress.
“Freshwater is becoming a trigger for conflict in many parts of the country. Protecting our sources is not just an environmental issue, it’s about peace and survival,” said the CS.
Kenya World Water Day: Progress in Water Access, But Gaps Remain
Mugaa reported significant gains in national water coverage, noting an increase from 56.2% to 73% over the past six years. However, he emphasized that Kenya’s per capita freshwater availability still falls well below the UN benchmark of 1,000 cubic meters per person annually, and is expected to decline further as the population grows and climate conditions worsen.
“We are intensifying last-mile water connectivity, targeting 200,000 additional households annually, as part of our national commitment to universal access,” he added.
During the event, the CS also commissioned Phase II of the Tigithi-Humuka Water Project, a key initiative by the Tana Water Works Development Agency, aimed at expanding safe water access in the region.
Glacier Preservation Takes Center Stage
In line with this year’s World Water Day theme, “Glacier Preservation,” Mugaa highlighted the role of glaciers as vital freshwater reservoirs. He warned that glaciers on Mount Kenya, Mount Kilimanjaro, and the Rwenzori Mountains have shrunk dramatically in recent years, with projections indicating they could disappear entirely within the next 15 years if urgent climate action is not taken.
“Glaciers store more than 70% of the world’s freshwater and regulate water flows that support hydropower, irrigation, biodiversity, and drinking water,” he explained. “Their retreat is not just a warning sign, it’s a global alarm bell.”
Mugaa stressed that melting glaciers also contribute to rising sea levels, posing serious threats to coastal communities and global ecosystems. He called for climate-smart interventions, including afforestation, sustainable land use, and lower emissions.
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Tree-Planting for Climate Resilience
The CS linked glacier protection to Kenya’s ambitious 15 billion tree planting and restoration initiative, which aims to boost forest cover to 30% by 2032. In the week leading up to the event, the Water Resources Authority (WRA) held public awareness campaigns on glacier preservation, culminating in tree-planting drives across critical catchment areas.
Local Leaders Commit to Expanding Water Access
Laikipia Governor Joshua Irungu and Laikipia East MP Mwangi Kiunjuri, who joined the celebration, pledged to reduce the average distance families travel to access water to less than two kilometers by 2027. They outlined plans to drill more boreholes, expand rainwater harvesting infrastructure, and rehabilitate existing supply systems to support growing demand.
“Access to water is not a privilege, it’s a basic right,” said Governor Irungu. “We are committed to reducing the burden, especially for women and children who walk long distances daily.”
As World Water Day 2025 draws to a close, leaders reiterated the need for shared responsibility in protecting dwindling water sources and building resilience to climate threats both at the local and national levels.
