With over 300,000 people in Nakuru County depending on its water for survival, River Njoro Basin is one of the most important water sources for the county and its residents.
Originating in Logoman Forest in the eastern escarpment of the Mau Forest Complex, River Njoro stretches over 60km as it snakes its way through Neissuit, Mau-Chepalungu Settlement (Mauche), Ngata, and Barut in Nakuru City before emptying into Lake Nakuru, Kenya’s first designated wetland of international importance.
The river, like many others in Kenya, faces serious threats from human-driven activities, climate change impact, destruction of catchment and riparian areas, poor land use practices in the upper catchment, sand harvesting, and effluent discharge from industries and buildings. As a result, the water levels and quality have declined, especially downstream where plastic pollution is also evident.
But WWF-Kenya is leading the rehabilitation of the basin through the Integrated River Njoro Catchment Management for Enhanced Ecosystem Services and Livelihoods (NESEEL) project. The rehabilitation is through interventions to conserve the catchment, soil and water. WWF-Kenya has also supported the local Community Forest Association (CFA) to develop a participatory forest management plan (PFMP), a structure that will help them sustainably conserve and benefit from the forest.
“River Njoro is important not just for Nakuru County but Kenya as a whole, and a global heritage that requires support from all sectors in order to reduce current negative impacts. There is a need for the public to take responsibility and at the same time demand action from the duty bearers.” Dr. William Ojwang, Freshwater Lead, WWF-Kenya.
