The Mount Kenya Ewaso Water Partnership (MKEWP) is a collaborative initiative operating across five counties: Nyeri, Laikipia, Meru, Isiolo, and Nyandarua. It engages a diverse range of stakeholders, including private institutions, public entities, and civil societies within the Ewaso Ng'iro basin. With a network of 30 partners, comprising rural Water Resource Users Associations, county governments, civil society organizations, the private sector, parastatals, research institutions, conservancies, and water service providers, the platform is committed to tackling water management challenges. Its primary objectives include facilitating dialogues, sharing information, fostering collective action, advocating for change, and enhancing capacity development to effectively address the identified challenges.
Embodying the motto "Maji yetu, Jukumu letu" ("Our water, Our responsibility"), MKEWP provides a platform to address challenges related to water allocation, management, infrastructure development, and institutional capacity within the catchment area.
MKEWP operates within the Upper Ewaso Ng’iro North catchment area, which stretches from the verdant slopes of Mount Kenya (altitude 5,200m asl) and the Aberdares. Here, pristine mountain streams flow through moorlands and forests, transitioning into semi-humid farmlands before reaching the semi-arid rangelands of Archer’s Post (altitude 300m asl), characterized by its arid climate. As the river descends further, it meanders towards the expansive Lorian Swamps, which are susceptible to seasonal flooding when the river overflows its banks. This lower region of the Ewaso Ng’iro North catchment predominantly consists of extensive semi-arid pastoral rangelands.
The upper catchment area covers 14,373 km² and serves as a critical source of livelihood for nearly 1.8 million people across the counties of Isiolo, Laikipia, Meru, Nyeri, and Samburu. These counties host a diverse array of economic activities. Smallholder farming, both rain-fed and irrigated, is vital in providing cereals, fruits, and vegetables to the rural and urban markets of Nanyuki, Isiolo, Naromoru, Rumuruti, Timau, and Nyahururu. Furthermore, the region boasts a flourishing commercial horticultural and floricultural industry that produces vegetables and flowers for local and export markets.
The tourism and recreation sectors in the area thrive on the stunning landscapes and natural resources available in national parks, reserves, forests, wildlife conservancies, and pastoral rangelands. The livestock sector is also robust, with commercial cattle ranches and pastoral lands significantly contributing to the economy. However, all these livelihoods heavily depend on access to water. Unfortunately, rainfall and water resources are unevenly distributed across the region, putting these livelihoods and enterprises at risk.
The management and utilization of water resources are crucial factors that constrain the socio-economic development of the catchment area. During the dry season, competition for water has led to conflicts over its use, resulting in environmental degradation and hindering economic progress. Despite the efforts of various stakeholders to tackle the challenges surrounding water resources, the situation continues to deteriorate.
2016
The Mount Kenya Ewaso Water Partnership (MKEWP) was initiated on October 14, 2016, in collaboration with the Laikipia Wildlife Forum (LWF). This initiative stemmed from diverse private, public, and civil society collaborators' dedication to jointly tackling water-related challenges in the Upper Ewaso Ng’iro North Catchment.
2017
In January 2017, MKEWP entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with SNV to establish and operationalize the Laikipia County Irrigation Acceleration Platform. Additionally, MKEWP signed a three-year contract with FFI, designating them as a local implementing partner for the Cattle, Water, and Wildlife Protection project in the Mutara Conservation Area.
2018
2019
2020
2023
2024
MKEWP has engaged in a one-year contract with WWF Kenya to enhance Integrated Water Resource Management and catchment restoration and protection by supporting organized Community Institutions through the Catchment to Tap Project