How we use water is everyone's responsibility

A woman and her family rejoice at the flowing of River Ewaso Ng'iro after an absence of six months during which the family suffered a severe drought. [File, Standard]

Many of us do not need to reiterate the importance of water, since it is an integral part of our daily lives.

Today, the world celebrates World Water Day. This year’s theme, “Glacier Preservation,” emphasises the importance of working together to put glacier preservation at the core of our plans. It holds a special significance for Kenya.

As hikers like myself can attest, the glaciers on Mt Kenya are disappearing at an alarming rate. Going up the mountain these days is no guarantee that you will encounter snow and ice at its peaks that gave it the name ‘Kirinyaga’ – that which glitters.

According to the United Nations Environment Programme, only 10 of the 18 glaciers that covered Mt Kenya’s summit a century ago remain. The Lewis Glacier, the largest, has decreased by 90 per cent in volume since 1934.

Some researchers predict disappearance of Mt Kenya’s glaciers as soon as 2030. This is a wake-up call for Kenya. Our glaciers are not just icy peaks. They are vital water towers and source of the tributaries that feed rivers like the Tana and Ewaso Ng’iro, which millions of Kenyans rely on for drinking water, agriculture, and hydroelectric power.

Reducing carbon emissions, protecting forests, and investing in sustainable water management are crucial steps to slow glacier loss and secure Kenya’s water future. Tackling the water crisis requires action at every level.  

Every action matters, and by working together, we can protect our water sources, mitigate the effects of climate change, and secure water for future generations. For individuals, being careful about actions in our daily lives can have a significant impact. Simple habits like fixing leaks, turning off taps when not in use, and using water-efficient appliances help reduce unnecessary consumption.

Corporates must take proactive steps to minimise their environmental footprint while contributing to the communities they operate in. This can be through collective action projects, partnerships and investing in improving access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) in our communities.

Practically, at Kenya Breweries Limited, this has meant a dedicated focus on preserving our natural resources. Our action plan, anchored on our sustainability strategy, ‘Spirit of Progress’, under a pillar called, ‘Pioneer Grain to Glass Sustainability,’ focuses on two key areas: water and carbon. 

For water, we are focused on how to manage its use in our operations, support our communities to access clean water, as well as advocate for collective action to improve water outcomes.

In tackling water use at our operations, we have invested Sh857 million in state-of-the-art water recovery plants at our Nairobi and Kisumu plants. The two plants are a first in the country in terms of scale with a capacity to recover 1,200 and 768 cubic metres respectively.

Additionally, through our water replenishment to the communities projects, we have replenished over 2 million cubic metres of water since 2020, thus providing clean water to millions of people in our EABL markets, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

For carbon, we aim to have net zero carbon emissions in our direct operations by 2030. This is driven by full utilisation of our biomass plants for which we invested Sh5 billion in Kenya and Uganda.

As we mark World Water Day, let this not just be a day of reflection but a call to action. Kenya’s water future depends on the steps we take today.

-The writer is EABL Group Corporate Relations Director