State launches Sh12 billion four-year plan to protect water towers
Counties
By
Graham Kajilwa
| Feb 08, 2016
The Government has unveiled a Sh12.3 billion strategic plan to protect water towers and maximise on their economic potential.
The four-year plan will promote green investments and enterprises in alternative energy to protect forest cover.
A report by Kenya Water Towers Agency (KWTA) shows targeted towers are the Mau Complex, Cherengani Hills, Mount Kenya, the Aberdare, and Mount Elgon which are said to be facing rapid degradation due to population pressure.
Of the 18 gazetted water towers, the Aberdares and Mau forests will be prioritised considering their economic impact on agriculture and tourism.
There are other 30 water towers already identified but only 11 have been gazetted.
READ MORE
Police ink Sh1.9 billion deal with Co-op Bank to boost mobility
Going nuts: How Kilifi coconut farmers are cracking poverty's shell for wealth
MPs demand names of defaulters as Hustler Fund unpaid loans hit Sh12.5b
Mini-budget tests IMF austerity demands as State spending soars
State: Gulf firms to keep fuel flowing into Kenya despite Middle East crisis
GCR affirms Afreximbank ratings, removes rating watch on reduced sovereign risk
KQ picks NSE boss Kiprono Kittony, David Ndii in Board shake-up
Tea market nets Sh1.5 billion for the smallholder factories in a week
Speaking during the launch of the plan, KWTA Chair Isaac Kalua said all land in gazetted water catchment areas will have title deeds in order to have them secured.
"In 2015 alone, over 2,500 acres of water tower land had been encroached," said Kalua.
"As the population grows with the demand for land increasing due to urbanisation, the major challenge becomes on how to balance economic development and conservation programmes as they are intertwined," said Environment Cabinet Secretary Judi Wakhungu.