Journey of Water: Kenyans unite to save River Kibos

Caption: The Journey of Water caravan in the middle catchment of River Kibos on the second day of the WWF-Kenya national campaign on 20 June 2024. The caravan made a stopover at River Nyangori, the major tributary of River Kibos. ©Chris Kirimi/WWF-Kenya

“If we are not careful as a country, Kenya could become a land of dry rivers,” said Enock Kiminta, – Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Kenya National Water Resources Users Association, the umbrella organization of water resources users associations. 

Kiminta was speaking at the stakeholders’ conference held in June in Kisumu City on the third and final day of the Journey of Water campaign for River Kibos. 

At the conference, the three counties in western Kenya that share River Kibos pledged to restore the water source and its tributaries following the Journey of Water campaign. This was the third edition of the campaign spearheaded by WWF-Kenya, the first having been for River Malewa in 2022 and the second for River Ewaso Nyiro in 2023. 

The three-day national campaign raised awareness on water security and brought together over 1,800 participants, including government authorities, non-state actors, civil societies and local residents from across the three counties. There was a marked increase in the number of young people who participated in the walk, among them university students who are members of environmental clubs. 

Following the issues exposed during the walk along River Kibos, Nandi, Vihiga and Kisumu Counties agreed to an 11-point joint communique, outlining the joint efforts they would undertake to restore water catchments in the Lake Victoria Basin Area.

Winding over 60 km through the three counties, River Kibos is a crucial transboundary water resource in the region,providing 65% of the water supply to about half-a-million Kisumu City residents but to communities in the upper catchment who use it both for domestic and irrigation purposes. However, River Kibos faces numerous threats. Upstream catchment encroachment due to human activities is diminishing water quality and quantity. Unsustainable sand harvesting is destabilizing the riverbanks and altering the natural flow. In the middle catchment areas, the degradation of riparian zones is harming the ecosystem, while the lower zones of the river are suffering from increasing pollution levels, further impacting water quality.

Judy Oluoch – Kisumu County Committee Executive Member for Water, Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change, read out the commitments at the stakeholders’ conference.

“We commit to establish a joint water resource facility geared towards pooling resources from respective counties and development partners…..and in collaboration with other stakeholders support the establishment of the Basin Water Resource Committees in the Lake region,” read Judy.  

During the Journey of Water campaign, participants walked 23 km along the River Kibos and its tributary, River Nyangori, through River Nyamasaria to the mouth in Dunga Beach.

Julius Korir – Principal Secretary (PS), State Department for Water, flagged off the campaign at Kobujoi, Nandi County, the river’s waterhead.

Mr. Korir said “the Ministry [of Water, Irrigation and Sanitation] is engaging with stakeholders on the modalities of establishing Basin Water Resources Committees. The Intergovernmental Water Sector Coordination Framework was signed and will soon be operational. The framework is critical for water conservation because it represents all stakeholders, from the National and County Governments to the communities living within the basins and other key stakeholders.”

Along the course of the river, the caravan noted the widespread establishment of on-farm woodlots, which have increased the tree cover of the area while also diversifying the livelihoods of the local communities. 

However, there was also widespread sand harvesting in the middle catchment, riparian encroachment, including the planting of eucalyptus trees along the riparian. Most of the sand harvesting is undertaken by youth who relied on it for their daily bread. 

Engaging with the youth, the local Water Resources Authority, pledged to follow up with the community to ensure their participation in the development of their sub-catchment plan. 

The development of the sub-catchment plan will give youth opportunities to participate in the identification of alternative livelihoods and sustainable practices that will ensure they derive benefits from their natural resources while also conserving water sources. 

In their joint communique, the three countries also promised to: “Prioritize sensitization, empowerment, and engagement of the local communities in the sub-catchments to adopt sustainable practices, including sustainable land use, agroforestry, and the planting of indigenous and appropriate tree species.”

“Water connects us more than anything else. It is, therefore, our joy to be here together. Our biggest responsibility is not only promoting the conservation of water source areas but also fostering our unity and togetherness," said Mohamed Awer – CEO, WWF-Kenya.

The Journey of Water campaign is funded through the Catchment to Tap project which is supported by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Kenya and other partners.  

By Joel Muinde & Leopold Obi