There are some things people can live without for a day.

Water is not one of them.

Before the first meal is prepared, before a farmer walks to the field, before a child leaves for school and before a family begins its daily routine, there is water.

It is used to drink, cook, wash, grow food, keep livestock, run businesses and maintain health. For communities living in areas affected by water scarcity, however, accessing this basic necessity can become a daily struggle.

In parts of Tharaka Nithi County, that struggle is increasingly difficult to ignore.

Water scarcity is not simply an environmental problem. It is a question of health, livelihoods, dignity, equality and human rights. And as climate change alters rainfall patterns, intensifies droughts and increases the frequency of extreme weather events, the question of who has access to safe and reliable water—and who does not—is becoming even more urgent.

For ACEECA, water security therefore sits at the intersection of environmental protection, climate action, sustainable livelihoods and community resilience.

The organization is now exploring partnerships with the Tharaka Nithi County Government to support practical interventions that could improve access to water while protecting the ecosystems upon which that water depends.

Water is a human right, not a privilege

In 2010, the United Nations General Assembly explicitly recognized the human right to safe and clean drinking water and sanitation, affirming that access to water is essential to the full enjoyment of life and all human rights.

The recognition was significant because it changed the way the world should think about water.

Water is not simply a commodity to be accessed by those who can afford it. It is a fundamental requirement for human dignity and wellbeing.

The right to water means that people should have access to water that is sufficient, safe, acceptable, physically accessible and affordable for personal and domestic use.

Yet recognition of a right does not automatically guarantee its realization.

The latest WHO and UNICEF data show that 2.1 billion people globally still lack safely managed drinking water, with rural communities and other marginalized populations continuing to face significant inequalities.

Behind every statistic are people.

A mother deciding how much water can be spared for cooking.

A farmer watching crops wither because rainfall has become unreliable.

A child spending time collecting water instead of studying.

A community health worker worrying about the consequences of unsafe water.

This is why water security must be understood through a human lens.

When the water point is far away, the burden is not shared equally

Water scarcity rarely affects everyone in exactly the same way.

Women and girls in many communities continue to carry a disproportionate responsibility for collecting household water. WHO and UNICEF report that in many countries, women and girls are primarily responsible for water collection, with some communities in sub-Saharan Africa spending more than 30 minutes a day collecting water.

Time spent looking for water is time that cannot easily be spent in school, at work, caring for children, farming or participating in community life.

For farmers, unreliable water can mean reduced production and lost income.

For households, it can mean difficult choices between drinking, cooking, cleaning and other essential needs.

For communities, persistent water insecurity can deepen poverty and increase vulnerability to climate shocks.

The consequences extend far beyond the water point.

Tharaka Nithi: where water security meets climate resilience

The challenge is particularly important in Tharaka Nithi, a county whose communities depend heavily on natural water sources and groundwater.

Recent county-level monitoring data illustrate the complexity of the situation. A January 2026 assessment by the National Drought Management Authority found that rivers accounted for 46 per cent of reported main water sources, while piped water accounted for 21 per cent and boreholes 8.5 per cent. The same assessment reported declining operational capacity of some boreholes, while some areas face challenges with saline groundwater that is unsuitable for human consumption.

These realities make water security a question not only of how many water points exist, but also of where they are located, whether they function, whether the water is safe, how communities can access it and whether the sources can withstand a changing climate.

This distinction is critical.

A borehole that is installed but not functional does not provide water.

A water source that is too far from households does not provide equitable access.

And infrastructure that depends on a degrading catchment cannot guarantee long-term water security.

The solution therefore requires a systems approach.

Beyond drilling: building a water-secure community

It is tempting to see boreholes as the answer to water scarcity.

They are part of the answer, but they are not the whole answer.

Water security requires investment in infrastructure alongside investment in the ecosystems that sustain water resources.

It means looking at groundwater, rivers, wetlands, catchments, rainfall, land use, agricultural practices and community institutions as interconnected parts of one system.

That is the approach ACEECA is seeking to advance in Tharaka Nithi.

During a recent engagement with the Tharaka Nithi County Government in Chuka, ACEECA and the County explored possible areas of partnership around borehole development and improving the distribution of water to communities.

The County delegation was led by Chief Officer for Water, Eng. Joyce Mutua, while the ACEECA delegation was led by Chief Executive Officer Pamela Gitobu.

The discussions focused not only on drilling additional boreholes, but also on how existing water infrastructure could be better utilized, including the possibility of piping water from existing boreholes to various community groups.

It is a practical question with potentially significant consequences:

How can communities get more value from water infrastructure that already exists while expanding access to areas that remain underserved?

But the conversation did not end at the borehole.

Protecting the source of the water

During the meeting, the County also emphasized its interest in working with partners on catchment production and restoration.

For ACEECA, this is an important area of potential collaboration.

Water security begins long before water reaches a household tap.

It begins in the landscape.

Forests, wetlands, rivers, soils and vegetation all play roles in the water cycle. When catchments are degraded through deforestation, erosion and unsustainable land use, their ability to regulate and store water can be weakened.

Restoring these landscapes is therefore not simply an environmental exercise. It is an investment in water security.

The link between climate change, water and resilience is increasingly clear. WHO notes that climate change is already placing water supplies under pressure, while droughts and floods can disrupt services and damage communities. Building resilience therefore requires water systems and infrastructure that can withstand climate variability and extreme events.

This is why ACEECA sees water infrastructure and ecosystem restoration as complementary interventions rather than separate agendas.

One brings water closer to people.

The other helps protect the natural systems that produce and sustain it.

Both are necessary.

From the meeting room to the riverbank

Following the engagement with the County Government, ACEECA and the County delegation travelled to the Muthangacwa and Gituma Rivers to monitor the progress of trees planted along the riverbanks.

The visit was a reminder of how closely water security and environmental restoration are connected.

The two rivers have been the focus of ongoing restoration work aimed at improving riparian ecosystems and strengthening the resilience of communities that depend on them.

Monitoring the trees after planting is particularly important.

Environmental restoration does not end when a seedling is put into the ground.

The real question comes later:

Did it survive?

Is it growing?

Is the riverbank recovering?

Are communities taking ownership?

What lessons can be applied elsewhere?

These questions are at the heart of ACEECA’s Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning approach.

They also reflect a broader principle: good climate action must be measured by what changes on the ground—not simply by what activities are completed.

Climate resilience starts with everyday needs

Climate resilience is sometimes discussed in technical language: adaptation, mitigation, vulnerability assessments, early warning systems and climate finance.

All of these are important.

But resilience also has a much simpler face.

It is the ability of a family to find safe water during a prolonged dry spell.

It is a farmer being able to maintain food production when rainfall becomes unpredictable.

It is a community having functioning water infrastructure when drought strikes.

It is a river catchment that can absorb rainfall rather than allowing degraded land to turn heavy rains into destructive floods.

It is a child who does not have to spend hours searching for water.

This is why water must occupy a central place in climate resilience planning.

WHO and UNICEF have repeatedly emphasized the need to strengthen water, sanitation and hygiene systems in the face of growing climate risks. In 2026, UN-Water’s latest GLAAS findings highlighted the importance of stronger WASH systems, financing, governance, data and climate-responsive planning to accelerate progress towards universal access.

Water security is therefore not a standalone development issue.

It is connected to virtually every aspect of sustainable development.

The opportunity for Tharaka Nithi

The emerging partnership between ACEECA and the Tharaka Nithi County Government presents an opportunity to take a more integrated approach to the county’s water challenges.

The ambition is not simply to count boreholes.

It is to explore how water infrastructure, community needs and ecosystem restoration can work together.

Potential areas of collaboration include strengthening access to groundwater through borehole development, improving the use of existing water sources, exploring community-level water distribution systems and supporting catchment restoration.

Such interventions must, however, be informed by local realities.

Communities understand where water is available, where it is scarce, how people currently access it and what barriers they face.

Their knowledge must therefore be part of the solution.

The most sustainable water interventions are not imposed on communities. They are developed with them.

Putting communities at the centre

For ACEECA, community participation is not an afterthought.

It is central to the organization’s Theory of Change.

When communities have the knowledge, resources, opportunities and institutional support to participate in decisions affecting their natural resources, they are better positioned to become long-term stewards of those resources.

This is particularly important in water management.

A borehole may be constructed by a project, but its sustainability depends on what happens after the project ends.

Who manages it?

Who maintains the pump?

How are costs handled?

Who has access?

How are disputes resolved?

What happens during periods of scarcity?

These are governance questions as much as they are technical questions.

Building water security therefore requires building local capacity and ownership alongside physical infrastructure.

A partnership that could go beyond water

The conversation between ACEECA and Tharaka Nithi County also points towards a broader opportunity.

Water security can become an entry point for addressing several interconnected development challenges at once.

Improved water access can support agriculture and livelihoods.

Catchment restoration can strengthen ecosystems and protect water sources.

Community nurseries can create opportunities for local participation and income generation.

Environmental education can strengthen stewardship.

Climate-smart agriculture can help farmers adapt to changing weather patterns.

And stronger local partnerships can create the institutional foundation needed to sustain these gains.

This is the kind of integrated action increasingly required in a changing climate.

The human measure of success

Ultimately, the success of any water security intervention should be measured in human terms.

It should be seen in the distance a family no longer has to travel to collect water.

In the crops that survive a dry season.

In the river that continues to flow.

In the tree that survives along a restored riverbank.

In the community group that can access reliable water for its activities.

In the child who has more time to learn.

And in the dignity that comes from knowing that something as fundamental as clean water is within reach.

The global recognition of water as a human right places a responsibility on governments, development partners, civil society and communities to move from recognition to action. The United Nations has called for resources, capacity-building, technology and cooperation to advance access to safe, clean, accessible and affordable water for all.

For Tharaka Nithi, that work is both urgent and deeply local.

A future where water security and environmental protection move together

ACEECA’s engagement with the Tharaka Nithi County Government marks the beginning of a conversation—not the end of one.

The next phase will require continued dialogue, technical assessment, community engagement and partnership building to determine where interventions can have the greatest impact.

But the direction is clear.

Water security cannot be separated from climate resilience.

Climate resilience cannot be separated from healthy ecosystems.

And environmental restoration cannot be separated from the people whose lives depend on these ecosystems.

The challenge is considerable. But so is the opportunity.

By bringing together county leadership, communities, environmental organizations and development partners, Tharaka Nithi can explore solutions that respond to immediate water needs while protecting the natural systems that will determine water availability in the years ahead.

Because water is more than a resource.

It is life. It is dignity. It is a human right. And in a changing climate, it is one of the foundations upon which resilient communities will be built.

For ACEECA, the commitment is to help make that right more tangible, one partnership, one community and one restored catchment at a time.

The post Water Is Life, Water Is a Right: Why Water Security Must Be at the Heart of Climate Resilience appeared first on African Centre For Environment, Energy and Climate Advocacy.

Against this backdrop, the African Centre for Environment, Energy and Climate Advocacy (ACEECA) held a strategic engagement with the Tharaka Nithi County Government to explore practical areas of partnership aimed at improving access to water while strengthening the ecosystems that sustain the county’s water resources.

The meeting, held at the Tharaka Nithi County Water Offices in Chuka, brought together the County’s water leadership and ACEECA’s management team for discussions centred on borehole development, water distribution, catchment restoration and community resilience.

The County delegation was led by Chief Officer for Water, Eng. Joyce Mutua, while the ACEECA delegation was led by Chief Executive Officer, Pamela Gitobu.

Responding to a growing water challenge

For communities across Tharaka Nithi, water scarcity is more than an environmental concern. It affects everyday life.

Limited access to reliable water can place additional pressure on households, constrain agricultural production, affect livelihoods and increase the vulnerability of communities already experiencing the impacts of a changing climate.

During the engagement, the County highlighted the scale of the challenge, noting that 523 boreholes currently serve the entire county.

While borehole infrastructure provides an important source of water, the discussion recognized that infrastructure alone does not automatically translate into accessible water for every community.

The conversation therefore turned to how existing water infrastructure could be better utilized.

One of the areas explored was the possibility of developing systems to pipe water from existing boreholes to community groups and other areas experiencing water shortages. Such an approach could help maximize the value of existing investments while identifying opportunities for additional infrastructure where it is most needed.

For ACEECA, the discussions represent an opportunity to connect water access with a broader agenda of climate resilience and sustainable development.

Beyond boreholes: Protecting the landscapes that produce water

A key message emerging from the meeting was that addressing water insecurity requires more than increasing water infrastructure.

The health of rivers, wetlands, forests and catchment areas plays a fundamental role in determining the availability and quality of water downstream.

Recognizing this connection, the County Government also emphasized the importance of catchment production and restoration and expressed its interest in bringing development partners on board to support these efforts.

Chief Officer for Water, Eng. Joyce Mutua, particularly expressed the County’s interest in partnering with ACEECA in this area.

For ACEECA, the opportunity is significant.

Catchment restoration can help protect water sources, reduce land degradation, improve ecosystem health and strengthen communities’ ability to withstand climate-related pressures. It also provides an opportunity to bring environmental conservation and community development into the same conversation.

The engagement therefore pointed towards an integrated approach: improving access to water while investing in the natural systems that make water security possible.

Taking the conversation from the boardroom to the river

Following the meeting, the ACEECA and County delegations travelled to the Muthangacwa and Gituma Rivers to undertake a monitoring exercise.

The field visit provided an opportunity for the teams to assess progress made through ongoing riverbank restoration efforts, including the growth and survival of trees planted along the riverbanks.

The visit also brought the day’s discussions into sharper focus.

The condition of a river and its surrounding landscape is closely connected to the wellbeing of the communities that depend on it. Restoring vegetation along degraded riverbanks can help reduce erosion, protect watercourses and contribute to healthier riparian ecosystems.

For ACEECA, monitoring the progress of restoration activities is an important part of ensuring that environmental interventions translate into meaningful and lasting outcomes.

It is also consistent with the organization’s commitment to Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL)—using evidence and lessons from the field to strengthen implementation and inform future interventions.

Building partnerships around shared priorities

The engagement between ACEECA and the Tharaka Nithi County Government comes at a time when communities across Kenya are confronting increasingly complex challenges linked to climate change, water insecurity and environmental degradation.

No single institution can address these challenges alone.

They require collaboration between county governments, communities, development organizations, environmental institutions, the private sector and other partners.

The discussions in Chuka demonstrated the value of bringing these priorities together.

Water infrastructure can help address immediate needs. Catchment restoration can strengthen the natural systems that sustain water resources. Community participation can help ensure that interventions respond to local realities and remain sustainable over time.

Together, these approaches can contribute to a more resilient water system and stronger communities.

A shared vision for a water-secure future

For ACEECA, the engagement with Tharaka Nithi County is not simply about identifying a new project opportunity. It is about exploring how partnerships can respond to a challenge that directly affects people’s lives.

The discussions also reaffirmed the importance of placing communities at the centre of environmental and climate action.

A water-secure future will require investments in infrastructure, but it will also require investment in the ecosystems that produce and regulate water. It will require stronger institutions, local ownership, evidence-based decision-making and sustained partnerships.

The next steps will focus on identifying practical areas of collaboration between ACEECA and the County Government, particularly around borehole development, water distribution, catchment restoration and community resilience.

As the teams continue the conversation, one principle remains clear:

Water security begins with protecting water sources, strengthening communities and investing in the landscapes that sustain life.

For the communities of Tharaka Nithi, that work is not an abstract climate agenda. It is about having water for the home, the farm, the livestock and the future.

And that is where meaningful climate action begins, with people, with partnerships and with solutions that respond to the realities on the ground.

The post From Water Access to Catchment Restoration: ACEECA and Tharaka Nithi County Explore New Pathways for Community Water Security appeared first on African Centre For Environment, Energy and Climate Advocacy.

The African Centre for Environment, Energy & Climate Advocacy (ACEECA) joined partners, community stakeholders, and conservation champions at the official launch of the Save Mau Forest Initiative held in East Mau, Njoro – Nessuit.

The event marked a significant milestone in advancing collaborative efforts to restore the Mau Forest ecosystem—one of Kenya’s most critical water towers—through nature-based solutions, indigenous tree planting, and community-driven environmental action.

A Collective Call for Ecosystem Restoration

Bringing together government representatives, local communities, development partners, youth groups, and environmental organizations, the launch underscored the urgency of restoring degraded landscapes and strengthening resilience against the impacts of climate change.

Participants engaged in a symbolic indigenous tree planting exercise, reaffirming a shared commitment to restoring ecological integrity while promoting sustainable livelihoods for forest-dependent communities.

The initiative emphasized the importance of indigenous knowledge systems, community participation, and inclusive governance in achieving long-term restoration outcomes.

Strengthening Nature-Based Solutions and Climate Action

Speaking during the engagement sessions, stakeholders highlighted the need to scale up integrated approaches that combine forest restoration, biodiversity conservation, and climate resilience.

Discussions focused on strengthening partnerships that support sustainable land management, promote environmental education, and empower local communities—particularly youth and women—to play an active role in ecosystem stewardship.

The Save Mau Forest Initiative aligns closely with global and national climate priorities, including nature-based solutions as a pathway to achieving environmental sustainability and low-carbon development.

ACEECA’s Commitment to Climate and Environmental Action

Through its participation, ACEECA reaffirmed its commitment to advancing environmental protection, climate action, clean energy transitions, and climate governance frameworks that prioritize community inclusion and sustainability.

The organization emphasized that meaningful forest restoration can only be achieved through sustained collaboration between communities, civil society, government institutions, and development partners.

ACEECA further underscored its ongoing efforts to support awareness creation, stakeholder engagement, and advocacy for policies that strengthen ecosystem restoration and climate resilience across Kenya.

Looking Ahead

The launch of the Save Mau Forest Initiative represents a renewed momentum toward restoring one of Kenya’s most vital ecological landscapes. It also signals a growing recognition that climate action must be locally driven, inclusive, and grounded in community realities.

As restoration efforts continue, ACEECA remains committed to supporting initiatives that safeguard natural ecosystems, enhance climate resilience, and contribute to a sustainable and equitable future for all.

The post ACEECA Participates in the Official Launch of the Save Mau Forest Initiative: Strengthening Community-Led Ecosystem Restoration in Kenya appeared first on African Centre For Environment, Energy and Climate Advocacy.

This year’s theme, “Acting locally for global impact,” highlights the critical role that communities and local initiatives play in safeguarding ecosystems and securing a sustainable future for generations to come.

Biodiversity — the rich variety of life on Earth — underpins food systems, clean water, healthy ecosystems, climate resilience, and livelihoods for millions of people worldwide. Yet despite its importance, biodiversity continues to decline at an unprecedented rate due to climate change, deforestation, pollution, unsustainable land use, and ecosystem degradation.

The International Day for Biological Diversity therefore serves as both a global awareness moment and a call to collective action.

Across Africa, communities are already demonstrating that local environmental action can create meaningful and lasting change. From restoring degraded landscapes and protecting riparian ecosystems to promoting sustainable agriculture and strengthening climate resilience, grassroots initiatives continue to contribute to broader global biodiversity goals.

At ACEECA, biodiversity conservation remains central to Our organization’s mission of advancing Inclusive, evidence based and locally driven solutions at the intersection of environmental protection, climate action, clean energy and climate governance.

Through ecosystem restoration initiatives, environmental awareness programmes, and community engagement efforts, ACEECA continues to work with local communities to protect natural resources while promoting sustainable development.

ACEECA notes that biodiversity protection cannot be achieved through policy commitments alone. It requires active participation from governments, institutions, civil society, the private sector, young people, and local communities.

This year’s global campaign encourages people around the world to participate in ways that are accessible and meaningful within their own communities. Activities marking the day may include environmental clean-up exercises, tree planting activities, online awareness campaigns, community dialogues, biodiversity education initiatives, and nature-focused events in schools and public spaces.

Individuals and organizations are also encouraged to share stories, experiences, and local actions through social media platforms using the hashtag #BiodiversityDay, helping amplify awareness and inspire collective environmental responsibility.

The 2026 celebrations are further guided by the 23 targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which seeks to halt and reverse biodiversity loss while strengthening global efforts toward sustainable development and climate resilience.

As the world commemorates the International Day for Biological Diversity On May 22, 2026 the message remains clear: no action for nature is too small.

Protecting biodiversity begins within our communities, but its impact reaches far beyond borders.

Together, through local action and global solidarity, it is still possible to build a future where both people and nature thrive.

The post International Day for Biological Diversity 2026: Local Action Driving Global Impact appeared first on African Centre For Environment, Energy and Climate Advocacy.

Hillary Kiplagat’s attempt to plant 21,800 trees within 22 hours is, on the surface, a pursuit of a Guinness World Record. Yet beyond the numbers lies something far more profound: a reflection of the urgency defining our moment, and the scale of action required to restore the ecosystems we depend on.

For nearly a full day, without pause, each seedling placed into the soil became part of a larger narrative—one of resilience, restoration, and responsibility.

More Than a Record

Across Africa and the world, forests are under increasing pressure from climate change, deforestation, and unsustainable land use. The consequences are visible: shrinking water sources, degraded soils, and declining biodiversity.

Against this backdrop, initiatives like this are not symbolic—they are essential.

Tree planting, when done sustainably and in the right ecological context, plays a critical role in:

• Restoring degraded landscapes
• Protecting watersheds and river systems
• Enhancing biodiversity
• Strengthening community resilience to climate shocks

Kiplagat’s effort underscores a powerful truth: meaningful environmental action is not confined to policy rooms or global summits. It is happening on the ground—often led by individuals and communities who understand the land intimately.

A Moment That Invites Collective Action

What makes this moment particularly significant is not only the scale of the effort, but the conversation it invites.

If one individual can mobilize such impact within 22 hours, what becomes possible when communities, organizations, and governments align their efforts?

At the African Centre for Environment, Energy, and Climate Advocacy (ACEECA), this question is central to our work. Across Kenya, we are supporting ecosystem restoration initiatives that place communities at the forefront—recognizing that sustainable change is built through local ownership and long-term commitment.

From riverine restoration projects to climate resilience programs, the goal remains clear: to move from isolated actions to coordinated, scalable solutions.

From Action to Impact

While record attempts capture attention, the true measure of success lies in what follows.

The survival and growth of these 21,800 trees will depend on continued care, community engagement, and ecological stewardship. Restoration is not a moment—it is a process.

This is where partnerships matter. Governments, civil society, private sector actors, and local communities each have a role to play in ensuring that today’s planting becomes tomorrow’s forest.

A Shared Responsibility

As the world races to meet climate targets and reverse environmental degradation, stories like this remind us that transformation is within reach—but only if matched with sustained action.

The path forward is not defined by individual milestones alone, but by collective momentum.

Kessup Forest now holds more than newly planted seedlings. It holds a message—quiet yet powerful—that the work of restoring our planet is both urgent and possible.

At ACEECA, we believe this is a moment to build on.
To act faster.
To collaborate deeper.
And to recognize that every effort, no matter how large or small, contributes to a shared future.

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