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The Nairobian

Let's manage water sustainably for future generations to enjoy it

Opinion

By Louisa Chinyavu | Mar 23, 2025

**World Water Day celebrations were held across Kenya, on March 22, 2025.** [David Gichuru, Standard]

As we mark the World Water Day 2025, it is imperative to recognise the critical role water resources contribute to environmental, social and economic benefits.

Water resources are fundamental to survival and prosperity of all living organisms on Earth. Understanding the multifaceted importance of water resources is essential for promoting sustainable management practices that ensure their availability for future generations.

Communities, the world over, rely on various water sources, including freshwater ecosystems and wetlands, for their water supply. Efforts such as Rights of Wetlands, Water Peace and Security, Mangrove Capital Africa, and other initiatives by Wetlands International Eastern Africa contribute to improving water quality through sustainable management practices that protect these vital ecosystems.

The agricultural sector, the backbone of Kenya’s economy, heavily depends on the hydrological cycle, as a large percentage of the mwananchi rely on rain-fed agricultural activities, including subsistence farming, for their livelihoods. An adequate water supply ensures food security by supporting crop production and livestock rearing. Furthermore, water resources contribute to community resilience against health crises, as effective sanitation practices rely heavily on the availability of clean water for handwashing, cleaning facilities, and maintaining personal hygiene. The fisheries sector is another significant contributor to Kenya’s economy, providing employment opportunities and food sources for millions. It is heavily reliant on water resources supporting fish populations through breeding habitats and nurseries. The Source to Sea Initiative supported effective management of these resources by contributing to the long-term sustainability of this industry, by supporting the Beach Management Units in Turkana through the installation of cold storage units for fish preservation.

On the other hand, water resources are essential for energy generation in the region, particularly through hydropower plants located along major rivers. Sustainable management practices embedded in integrated water resources management (IWRM) approaches ensure that these energy sources remain viable while minimising the environmental impacts associated with dam construction and operation. This approach considers the interconnectedness of different water uses across sectors such as agriculture, energy, and tourism, while promoting sustainability and social inclusion.

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In addition, water resources provide numerous ecosystem services that benefit both nature and people, thereby sustaining life. These include flood regulation, groundwater recharge, carbon sequestration, and nutrient cycling. Aquatic ecosystems, including healthy wetlands, contribute significantly to mitigating climate change effects by absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. By promoting integrated water resources management practices, the Source to Sea Initiative in the Ziway-Shalla Sub-Basin Landscape in Ethiopia supported communities in the establishment of Community Based Organisations through implementing nature-based restoration measures such as building half-moon and eyebrow basins to better adapt to environmental degradation. Initiatives aimed at restoring wetlands enhance natural buffers against these climatic challenges.

Water resources support regional cooperation, as several water basins are shared within the Eastern Africa region, including the Nile Basin and Lake Turkana, where Wetlands International Eastern Africa has implementation activities contributing to the effective management of these transboundary basins, such as fostering partnerships through transboundary wetlands governance in the Nile Basin. Another example is in the Tana River Basin, whereby the Rights of Wetlands Initiative promotes dialogue and cooperation among water users to address shared challenges related to water allocation.

Through community engagement focused on participatory approaches to sustainable water management, a sense of ownership and responsibility is fostered towards environmental stewardship. Programmes like Mangrove Capital Africa in Lamu, Kenya and Rufiji, Tanzania focus on empowering communities to conserve mangroves and manage water resources effectively within the wetlands they live adjacent to, ensuring that they contribute to both biodiversity conservation and local livelihoods.

In highlighting the significance of water management and conservation efforts, it is essential to showcase the nexus between water and wetlands resources as vital for biodiversity support, water regulation, quality improvement, climate change mitigation, and community engagement. By conserving water resources, the Eastern Africa region can enhance its climate resilience while simultaneously safeguarding its aquatic ecosystems.

Efforts by Wetlands International Eastern Africa highlight the critical link between water resources and wetlands, and the need for concerted efforts towards water conservation as a means of ensuring sustainable water management practices that benefit both people and nature.

World Water Day is an annual United Nations observance day held on March 22, that highlights the importance of fresh water.