Future of Nairobi's water depends on Upper Tana's health

A water reservoir at Hola irrigation and settlement scheme, Tana River County. Over 5,000 acres of land are under irrigation-agriculture in the area.[Nehemiah Okwembah, Standard]

Nairobi County is approaching the limits of its water supply. Demand is rising, rainfall is more unpredictable, and groundwater is not a long-term solution. To secure the city's water future, the rivers that supply it must be protected at their source.

Over the past decade, despite mounting pressure on the water supply, Nairobi's taps have not run dry. That resilience is not accidental. Sustained investment and collaboration to protect the Upper Tana watershed, where 95 percent of Nairobi's water begins its journey, has made a difference. Today, 42 million more litres of water flow to Nairobi daily than 10 years ago.