State to integrate government, private ambulances under ‘Golden Goal’ project

The Kenya Watershed Services Improvement Project (KEWASIP), funded by the World Bank, has been launched with a Ksh26 billion ($200 million) budget to address degraded landscapes and water catchment areas across 12 counties in Kenya. The five-year initiative aims to rehabilitate 200,000 hectares of damaged ecosystems, focusing on restoring critical water catchments, improving land management, and enhancing community resilience dependent on natural resources.

Environment Cabinet Secretary Dr. Deborah Barasa emphasized that the project will go beyond conventional tree-planting efforts, addressing underlying causes of degradation, improving land management, protecting biodiversity, and creating sustainable economic opportunities for communities. The program targets five priority landscapes, including Marsabit Hills, Marmanet, Nyambene Hills, Chyulu Hills, and Shimba Hills, spanning 12 counties.

Barasa warned that unsustainable land-use practices, soil erosion, and climate change are threatening ecosystem productivity, reducing water availability, and increasing vulnerability to droughts and floods. She stressed the importance of community participation, accountability, and sustainability in the project's success, urging county governments to incorporate its interventions into their development priorities and protect environmentally sensitive areas.

The initiative aligns with the national restoration agenda aiming to rehabilitate 10.6 million hectares of degraded landscapes by 2032 under the National Landscape and Ecosystem Restoration Strategy. Approximately 88.6% of Kenya's land is at risk of degradation, with natural resources supporting over 80% of livelihoods.