In the central parts of Kenya, where water is seen to be plentiful, climate change and human activities are having an ever-growing impact on water supply. For far too long the efforts many people such as small-scale farmers, local community groups and water resource users’ associations have made to protect the sources upstream of key water reservoirs that supply cities, have been neglected and their contribution to water security downplayed. Now is the time to adapt the ‘polluter pays’ principle and apply it to protecting water sources. Those who are conserving the environment, protecting water sources that many others use, and storing carbon to help tackle climate change, need to be commended and encouraged to continue so that there is sufficient water for the country. To us, managing the watershed that supplies the water in the first place is a key component of the entire water service chain.

Source: The Star June 07, 2021 00:56 UTC