Launched on October 14, 2016, MKEWP represents a collective effort by diverse partners to tackle water-related risks in the Upper Ewaso Ng'iro North Catchment. Guided by its motto, "Maji yetu, Jukumu Letu” (Our Water, Our Responsibility), MKEWP serves as a dynamic platform for addressing issues such as water allocation, resource use management, infrastructure development, and institutional capacity building.
With 19 partners, including commercial farmers, 30 Water Resource Users Associations (WRUAs), 5 county governments, 6 Community Forest Associations (CFAs), 2 research organizations (MPALA and CETRAD), and various service providers, MKEWP focuses on water management challenges through dialogue, information sharing, collective action, advocacy, and capacity development.
To provide an effective platform for coordinated stakeholder engagement to address the challenges of managing water as a resource within Upper Ewaso Ng'iro North Basin
Water Security For all within the upper Ewaso Ng'iro Basin
OUR ACHIEVEMENTS
The Mount Kenya Ewaso Water Partnership (MKEWP) has emerged as a beacon of sustainable development, driving impactful initiatives that harmonize environmental conservation with community well-being. By addressing critical challenges in water resource management, climate adaptation, and livelihoods, MKEWP has established itself as a catalyst for positive change.
Through these initiatives, MKEWP exemplifies how partnerships can drive transformative change. By combining environmental conservation with community-driven solutions, MKEWP secures resources for future generations while empowering stakeholders to achieve sustainable development.
Empowering Communities Through Livelihood Initiatives
MKEWP recognizes that sustainable ecosystems and thriving communities go hand in hand. By providing a seed fund to support income-generating activities, the partnership has enabled local communities to diversify their livelihoods, enhancing resilience against economic and environmental shocks.
Water Security Through Innovative Financing
Scaling Water Security Through Innovative Financing. EMU SACCO’s flagship product, the Vuna Maji Loan, empowers members to achieve water security.
Citizen-Led River Health Monitoring
MKEWP’s commitment to monitoring river health underscores its dedication to preserving vital water sources. Through the WWF Kenya-funded project "Catchment to Tap," MKEWP has equipped 12 WRUAs in 4 counties with River Health Monitoring equipment for citizen-led river health assessments.
Lobbying and Advocacy
Enhancing Governance and Advocacy for Natural Resource Management through sensitization and public participation meetings with the Water Resources Authority (WRA) and other duty-bearers have promoted equitable use and management of natural resources.
Mount Kenya Ewaso Water Partnership (MKEWP) is an implementing partner of the Darwin Extra Initiative Project funded by UK Government through Darwin Initiative and led by Fauna & Flora in a project titled ‘Increasing ecological and socio-economic resilience of Upper-Ewaso Ng’iro North Ecosystem’. The project focuses on approximately 5,800km2 of the Upper-Ewaso Ng'iro North Ecosystem. The expected outcome of the project is a ‘Sustainable natural resource management increases water security and ecosystem functioning in the Upper-Ewaso Ng'iro North Ecosystem, supporting key species, reducing conflict, increasing human wellbeing, and adaptation to climate change. To achieve the outcome, the project will deliver 4 main outputs namely:
Water Resources Authority (WRA) is a state corporation established under Section 11 of the Water Act, 2016. it is mandated through delegated Authority on behalf of the National government to safeguard the right to clean water by ensuring that there is proper regulation of the management and use of water resources, in order to ensure sufficient water for everyone- now and in the future.However, the Authority has been in existence for 20 years following its establishment under the Water Act, 2002 as Water Resources Management Authority (WRMA).
The "Catchment to Tap" project, supported by WWF Kenya and funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Nairobi, aims to improve access to clean, safe water and sanitation for all users in Kenya while enhancing climate resilience in the water sector. It focuses on three immediate goals: Resilience and sustainability of the WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) sector by integrating WRM (Water Resources Management) considerations; Enhanced capacity for authorities to implement collaborative approaches for sustainable water supply and sanitation; and Knowledge sharing to promote nexus approaches connecting WASH and WRM sectors.
The project has three components:
Awareness: Advocacy to mobilize action on water security challenges.
Knowledge sharing: Empowering key actors to act on IWRM (Integrated Water Resources Management) improvements.
Improved systems: Building capacity for effective WRM.
Cross-cutting themes include climate adaptation, mitigation, and gender integration, aiming to demonstrate sustainable and innovative water management practices across Kenya.
Ewaso Maji Users SACCO (EMU SACCO) is the newest innovation by MKEWP. EMU SACCO aims to enhance water security for communities and households by offering financial solutions along the Ewaso basin. As a community-based financier, EMU SACCO supports farmers in becoming water secure. Its mission is to transform members' livelihoods through financial solutions that improve water security and sustainable economic empowerment in the Ewaso Basin. Its vision is to enhance water security through affordable water infrastructure investments.
EMU SACCO’s flagship product, Vuna Maji Loan, empowers members to achieve water security. This unique offering provides:
Laikipia Wildlife Forum also referred to as LWF, is a dynamic membership led conservation organization supporting, coordinating and facilitating conservation and natural resource management initiatives within the greater Laikipia Landscape. They provide a platform for dialogue for a cross section of land owners and land users including local community groups, private ranchers, pastoralists, small-scale farmers and tourism ventures. Their mantra of “Forumness” calls on us to bring people together to work on matters relevant to natural resource management. LWF provides a platform for people to find solutions to common problems. This is what makes it unique and is the origin of Laikipia Wildlife Forum.
Investing in MKEWP’s initiatives is a step toward securing a resilient and prosperous future for the Mount Kenya region and its people.
MKEWP is a collaborative initiative spanning Nyeri, Laikipia, Meru, Isiolo, and Nyandarua Counties. It engages stakeholders from private, public, and civil sectors within the Ewaso Ng'iro basin to address shared water management challenges.