Access, better use of water is all we need for sustainable growth

Water vendors sell water in jerricans along the streets of Kibera slums in Nairobi on October 6, 2022. [Elvis Ogina, Standard]

Sustainable development simply means economic development without depletion of natural resources; meeting our present needs (economic, social, cultural and environmental) without compromising ability of future generations to meet their own.

At the core of sustainable development is our ability to replenish the earth, ensure climate mitigation and positive adaptation so that our children and their children can enjoy the same flora, fauna and environment we are enjoying today.

Human beings have an incredible capacity to survive and endure. They also have an incredible destructive capacity. Thankfully the two types, destroyers and preservers exist in equal measure.

The interlinkages between economic, social and environmental interplay cannot be gainsaid, hence the importance of balancing them. The inequalities in our society are traumatising. Every day we read and see children dying because their parents are too poor to afford drugs, blood for transfusion or money to facilitate simple but lifesaving medical procedures.

We watch as other children starve to death. Slow and painful death. The value and worth of life are determined by our economic and social status. The conversations around inequalities are not yet adequately taking place because majority of people are preoccupied with basic survival, questions of where their next meal will come from and dealing with runaway cost of living.

To address poverty/want, hunger, thirst and inequalities, we need to focus on sustainable development and social safety nets and protection. There is no reason why all countries should not meet their basic needs of employment, food, energy, water, and sanitation.

Yet, most countries are unlikely to achieve sustainable development goals (SDGs) by 2030. Some targets of some of the 17 goals have expired or are about to yet, coming out of the Covid-19 pandemic, most countries will not recover sufficiently enough and regain the momentum to implement their efforts to achieve SDGs.

Some countries in Africa, Kenya included are struggling under a huge debt burden and the creditors have refused to suspend or forgive some of these crippling debts. We are struggling with serious recession and austerity measures may be insufficient to deal with the current crises.

The environment and climate appear to have taken centre stage. Rains have been failing or have become less and more infrequent. We depend on water. Rain water. In most parts of Kenya, water is scarce but in others it is in plenty.

A well-informed scholar told me that we have in electricity generating dams, life-lines that are inextinguishable; that in fact, water can be managed in these and other dams to provide irrigation and ensure food security in all lower eastern counties. In addition, there are many Vision 2030 flagship project dams and other smaller government dams that can ensure sufficient water to grow enough food for domestic consumption and even for export.

We only require political will and strategies to use this water for the greater good of our communities. In addition, there are rivers flowing through poor communities into the Indian Ocean. A waste. Many communities also do not know innovative methods of water harvesting and usually lose great opportunities when rains come.

Perhaps it is time to refocus our priorities to better use our existing water resources to advance our sustainable development objectives and goals. We also need mass education on climate-smart agriculture, responsible production and consumption and sustainability.

For this to work, there is great need for inter-and intra-county cooperation, collaboration and partnerships. We also require a framework for water resources sharing and accountability. Many communities only need water, not necessarily from boreholes, because the best is surface water, to feed themselves and thrive.

Water ensures food security, hygiene and healthy living. Clean and well-fed people are less prone to diseases and can use their surpluses to take their children to school.

Finally, we have plenty of wind and solar. With the right planning and systems, we can ensure unending access to clean and renewable energy for all by 2030. We can save lives, nurture the current and future generations forever.