Environment and Climate Change: Dr. Eng. Festus Ng’eno has commended the Eldoret-Iten Water Fund (EITWF) for growing 1.3 million trees in less than one year, directly contributing to H.E. the President’s national target of growing 15 billion trees by 2032.

“EITWF has distributed more than 200,000 fruit trees as part of agro-forestry activities, facilitated the installation of 153 water pans, harvested more than 20,000 metric tons a year, and distributed 110 metric tons of improved napier to control soil erosion on steep farmlands and slopes in the catchment.”

As part of the country’s commitment towards achieving Aichi Biodiversity Targets, EITWF contributes to these efforts, as the restoration of wetlands and forest ecosystems are critical biodiversity areas under threat due to human encroachment.

PS Dr. Eng. Ng’eno spoke today during the hybrid second meeting of the project steering committee for the GEF-7-funded project to review the progress and work plan of the project for the next financial year (2024-2025).

PS Eng. Ng’eno called on the committee to focus on the key deliverables of the project and accelerate its momentum to achieve the expected outcomes. “The restoration of 15,000 ha of degraded forest and enhanced protection of 85,000 ha of protected land will benefit livelihoods.”.

He acknowledged the successful training of 25 Ogiek youths in beehive making and tree nursery establishment, aiming to raise one million indigenous trees for conservation and emphasizing the importance of community involvement in such projects.

The PS emphasized the key role that partnerships play: “the government is working jointly with development partners such as IFAD, among others, to mobilize funds for conservation. We need to increase the pace of restoration due to the rapid rate at which landscape degradation is moving, and therefore we must triple our joint efforts.”

The implementation of the water fund model has made a great impact in our country, starting with the Upper Tana-Nairobi and now the Eldoret-Iten Water Funds. They have created an opportunity for the establishment of the River Yala-Nyando Water Fund through the GEF 8, which is currently in the design stage.

The GEF/IFAD funding is to the tune of USD 8 million, with co-financing of USD 120 million to be implemented for a period of 5 years by The Nature Conservancy (TNC).

Overall, more than 3 million people living in the north and western Mau, as well as Cherangany water towers, will have their livelihoods improved through the implementation of such sustainable programs.

The meeting brought together representatives of Elgeiyo Marakwet and Uasin Gishu counties, the National Treasury, the private sector, Eldoret Water and Sanitation Company, as well as GEF Implementing Partners: The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Nature Conservancy (TNC).