Environment

Makueni County on Friday joined the global community in commemorating World Environment Day at Kea Comprehensive School in Kilome Sub-County, with a renewed call for environmental conservation, ecosystem restoration and community-led climate action.

As part of its commitment to restoring degraded ecosystems, the County Government unveiled the County Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) Scaling Strategy, a roadmap designed to accelerate landscape restoration across the county over the next three years.

Speaking during the event, Lands Executive Committee Member Dr. Paul Musila said the strategy provides a practical and cost-effective framework for restoring degraded landscapes through the protection, regeneration and sustainable management of naturally occurring trees and vegetation.

The strategy outlines an ambitious implementation plan running from 2026 to 2030, targeting the restoration of 55,000 hectares of degraded land, training of 40,000 farmers, 100 extension officers and 60 teachers and tutors in public learning institutions, while strengthening community governance systems to support sustainable natural resource management.

As the world prepares to mark World Environment Day tomorrow, the Makueni Sand Conservation and Utilization Authority on Thursday conducted a tree-planting exercise at Kiaoni along the Muuoni River in Nguu/Masumba Ward.

The initiative seeks to restore and protect the fragile riverine ecosystem, enhance water retention, and strengthen community resilience to the impacts of climate change.

The Authority has been at the forefront of efforts to rehabilitate rivers degraded by years of uncontrolled and unsustainable sand harvesting. Through restoration programs, environmental conservation initiatives, and community engagement, it continues to promote sustainable sand utilization while safeguarding vital water resources and ecosystems for future generations.

Residents of Nguu/Masumba Ward are set to benefit from improved access to clean and safe water following the official handing over of the Muthyamwii Water Project site to a contractor by the Makueni County Climate Change Unit.

The project, funded under the Financing Locally-Led Climate Action (FLLoCA) programme, seeks to address persistent shortages that have forced community members to travel long distances in search of water for domestic and livestock use. The intervention is expected to enhance water security, improve public health and support climate resilience in one of the county’s drought-prone areas.

The project will involve drilling of a borehole and distribution to surrounding to the vulnerable community. Once completed, the project is expected to benefit more than 200 households through reliable access to clean water while creating opportunities for irrigation, kitchen gardening and other productive uses.

The initiative, according to Makueni Climate Change Director Jackline Kamusa, is also expected to reduce the prevalence of waterborne diseases, improve household nutrition and support agricultural productivity, helping the community adapt to the impacts of recurrent droughts and erratic rainfall.

The Makueni County Sand Conservation and Utilization Authority on Tuesday led a major tree planting exercise along Masaani River in Ukia Sub-ward, where more than 2,000 trees were planted to restore the river ecosystem and strengthen climate resilience.

The initiative brought together local residents and county officials in efforts aimed at reducing soil erosion, improving water retention, protecting sand harvesting areas and enhancing environmental sustainability.

Speaking during the exercise, Managing Director Ndambuki Kioko said the programme forms part of the County Government’s broader climate change resilience-building efforts through sustainable natural resource management and ecosystem restoration.

Makueni County Climate Change Officers on Tuesday inspected the ongoing construction of the Kikuu–Kawala Water Project, a key climate resilience investment aimed at improving water security and livelihoods in Nzakika Ward. The inspection team was accompanied by the area MCA, Francis Mutuku.

The project is designed to address persistent water scarcity and agricultural challenges while strengthening environmental sustainability and community resilience to drought.

The Kikuu–Kawala Water Project is part of a wider county climate action initiative being implemented across Makueni County under the Financing Locally-Led Climate Action(FLLoCA) Program. The county government is currently implementing 17 integrated climate resilience projects in 17 wards, focusing on water, agriculture and environmental conservation.

The projects are collectively valued at more than KSh 200 million and are expected to strengthen communities’ capacity to adapt to climate change while supporting sustainable development.

County officials involved in the implementation of the Financing Locally-Led Climate Action (FLLoCA) programme, funded among others by the World Bank, have undergone a compliance capacity-building training led by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) in partnership with the National Treasury.

The EACC team commended Makueni for its open governance and people-centred development model, which gives residents control over projects through public oversight. According to Dr. Susan Kinyeki, a Deputy Director at EACC, the approach has earned the county a high compliance rating in the Annual Performance Assessment of FLLoCA-funded projects, where Makueni scored 98 percent in the 2023/2024 assessment.

Dr. Kinyeki noted that Makueni’s governance model has significantly sealed corruption loopholes by enhancing transparency, accountability and citizen participation, thereby ensuring residents get value for money from climate investments.

She added that the training seeks to strengthen institutional accountability and enhance public oversight within the County Climate Change Fund mechanism.

Officials from the Office of the Auditor General have commended Makueni for the successful implementation of climate resilience investments under the Financing Locally-Led Climate Action Programme (FLLoCA), citing sustainability, transparency and community capacity building as key pillars driving the projects’ success.

The team which conducted a week-long Annual Progress Assessment praised the county’s approach in promoting community ownership and accountability, noting that the investments are already improving livelihoods and strengthening resilience against climate change in local communities.

At Yandia water project (Emali-Mulala Ward), the project chairperson highlighted the transformation brought about by the investment, saying residents now access clean water within less than one kilometer, compared to the long distances they previously covered. The initiative currently serves an average of 3,500 residents through six water kiosks and 49 household water connections, with plans underway to expand coverage and benefit more than 5,000 people.

The community also revealed plans to venture into water bottling as a way of generating additional income and ensuring the sustainability of the investment.

Reliable water supply has further enabled residents to embrace climate-smart agriculture, enhancing food security.

The team also visited Kiangini-Kikuu Community Water project, Wautu-Kyangati Sand Dam, Kwa Kakui and Kyanduu Integrated Water Project to assess the impact of the climate resilience investments being implemented across the county.

Makueni County on Saturday joined the rest of the World in commemorating International Day of Forests at KALRO Kiboko, under the theme Forests and Economics, where attendees planted over 1,000 tree seedlings.

Leading the exercise, Chief Officer for Environment, Natural Resources, Mining and Climate Change Dr. Ngovi Muthoka encouraged residents to plant trees extensively, highlighting their role in restoring degraded land, improving livelihoods through products such as fruits and timber and boosting agricultural productivity.

Ngovi said the county government targets the restoration of 200,000 hectares of degraded land in Makueni as part of a broader effort to combat climate change and promote environmental sustainability.

The exercise was also graced by key partners including the Kenya Forest Service, Kenya Red Cross Society, Hatua Achievers Association, ChildFund among others.

Construction of Londokwe Water Pan Project in Kitise/Kithuki Ward is steadily progressing, bringing renewed hope to a community long affected by recurring droughts and water scarcity.

Once complete, the water pan will harvest and store runoff from the seasonal Londokwe River, creating a reliable water source for 420 households. For many families, this means shorter distances in search of water, improved access for domestic use, better livestock health, and new opportunities for small-scale irrigation.

Implemented by the Environment and Climate Change Directorate under the Financing Locally-Led Climate Action (FLLoCA) Program, the project significantly advances Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr water blueprint of ensuring that no resident walks more than two kilometres in search of water.