Kenya has officially launched the Upper Athi River Catchment Area (ARCA) project titled, “Enhancing Community Resilience and Water Security in the Upper Athi River Catchment Area in Kenya.” The project is funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) marking a major step in strengthening climate resilience and water security across four counties. The project was launched on 26th February, 2026 in Nairobi.
The Chief Guest was Musalia Mudavadi, Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs. In his keynote address, Dr. Mudavadi said the initiative is designed to strengthen the resilience of communities and increase water security in Kiambu, Machakos, Nairobi and Nyandarua counties, an expansive ecosystem that supports millions of Kenyans, including farmers, pastoralists, industries and urban households.
Dr. Mudavadi said the project demonstrates Kenya’s resolve to confront the global climate crisis while safeguarding water resources and promoting sustainable economic growth for present and future generations, before officially declaring the programme launched. He noted that the programme aligns with Kenya’s Nationally Determined Contribution under the Paris Agreement, including the country’s commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 32 percent by 2032 and scale this up to 35 percent by 2035.
He emphasized that climate action remains central to Kenya’s Fourth Medium Term Plan (2023–2027) and the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, including ambitious environmental restoration targets such as growing 15 billion trees and restoring degraded landscapes.
Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, Dr. Deborah Barasa, described the launch as a historic milestone, noting that ARCA is Kenya’s first project to be funded by the Green Climate Fund under the Direct Access Modality. “This initiative strengthens Kenya’s growing GCF portfolio, which now comprises over 19 projects valued at approximately $292.7 million. Dr. Barasa reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment as a signatory to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement, highlighting key national frameworks including the Climate Change Act (2016, amended 2023), the National Climate Change Action Plan and the National Adaptation Plan”. She added that the project’s focus on sustainable water infrastructure, resilience-building and natural resource management will enable targeted communities to better withstand climate shocks while improving access to quality water.
On his part Principal Secretary for Environment and Climate Change, Festus K. Ng’eno, described the initiative as transformative.“We aren’t just launching a project with a long title; we are launching a lifeline for the Upper Athi River Catchment,” he said, noting that the project represents Kenya’s broader commitment to ensuring communities not only endure climate change, but “overcome and thrive in it.”
Dr. Ng’eno underscored the urgency of action, stating that climate change is “not a theoretical threat but our lived reality,” with impacts falling most heavily on rural and vulnerable communities. However, he stressed that Kenya “refuses to be defined by our vulnerabilities” and instead chooses to be defined by ambition.
He added that ARCA exemplifies Kenya’s integrated approach to climate action. “Through ARCA, we are protecting livelihoods, restoring our ecosystems, and opening the door for climate-smart investments. We are proving that we can lower our carbon footprint while simultaneously building a wall of resilience around our farming communities,” he said.
The project will be implemented by the National Environment Management Authority as the accredited entity, working alongside the Water Resources Authority and the Kenya Meteorological Department. It will focus on strengthening climate-reresilient water infrastructure, enhancing ecosystem restoration and improving climate information systems in the Upper Athi River Catchment.
The NEMA Chairman, Emilio Mugo stated that NEMA has walked the journey with GCF since 2016. He noted that the relationship with GCF has seen the Authority benefit from capacity building initiatives through the readiness program and project preparation facility. He underscored that the board has put strategic policy direction to ensure the Authority delivers on its mandate. The Chairman added that the Authority has identified climate action as a key result area in recognition of the country role in advancing the climate agenda.
The Chairman noted that the upper Athi River catchment plays a critical role in supporting livelihoods of thousands of households, sustaining biodiversity and driving economic activities. Despite this, the catchment has faced various challenges ranging from deforestation, water over abstraction, pollution, land degradation among others. This had made communities downstream vulnerable to droughts and regular floods.
NEMA Director General, Dr. Mamo B. Mamo, EBS stated that the project will help the country invest in climate resilient infrastructure including construction and rehabilitation of water pans, boreholes and sand dams and other water facilities to ensure reliable water supply. The DG urged the County Governments and other institutions to fully embrace the project as the communities are the centre of the activities to be undertaken.
Dr. Mamo emphasized that the success of the project will depend on the ownership and participation of affected communities. He appreciated the GCF for approving the grant project the country and the national treasury as the designated authority and the national focal point of GCF. The DG also appreciated the executing entities for supporting various components of the project stating that their technical expertise will go a long way in ensuring the success of the project.
As implementation begins, leaders called for transparency, accountability and collective responsibility to ensure the programme delivers lasting benefits to communities and secures a resilient, water-secure future for Kenya.
In attendance were, Governor of Nyandarua County, H.E Dr. Kiarie Badilisha, CECM Kiambu David Kuria, CECM Machakos Onesmus Muia, Ag. Director KMD Mr. Edward M. Muriuki, the WRA Board, led by Chairperson Donald Murgor and CEO Mohamed Shurie.
The project will be implemented in four Counties namely; Nyandarua, Kiambu, Nairobi and Machakos. The project aims to strengthen the resilience to climate change of communities, and increase water security in the area.
Source: Nema
He emphasized that climate action remains central to Kenya’s Fourth Medium Term Plan (2023–2027) and the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, including ambitious environmental restoration targets such as growing 15 billion trees and restoring degraded landscapes.
Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, Dr. Deborah Barasa, described the launch as a historic milestone, noting that ARCA is Kenya’s first project to be funded by the Green Climate Fund under the Direct Access Modality. “This initiative strengthens Kenya’s growing GCF portfolio, which now comprises over 19 projects valued at approximately $292.7 million. Dr. Barasa reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment as a signatory to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement, highlighting key national frameworks including the Climate Change Act (2016, amended 2023), the National Climate Change Action Plan and the National Adaptation Plan”. She added that the project’s focus on sustainable water infrastructure, resilience-building and natural resource management will enable targeted communities to better withstand climate shocks while improving access to quality water.
On his part Principal Secretary for Environment and Climate Change, Festus K. Ng’eno, described the initiative as transformative.“We aren’t just launching a project with a long title; we are launching a lifeline for the Upper Athi River Catchment,” he said, noting that the project represents Kenya’s broader commitment to ensuring communities not only endure climate change, but “overcome and thrive in it.”
Dr. Ng’eno underscored the urgency of action, stating that climate change is “not a theoretical threat but our lived reality,” with impacts falling most heavily on rural and vulnerable communities. However, he stressed that Kenya “refuses to be defined by our vulnerabilities” and instead chooses to be defined by ambition.
He added that ARCA exemplifies Kenya’s integrated approach to climate action. “Through ARCA, we are protecting livelihoods, restoring our ecosystems, and opening the door for climate-smart investments. We are proving that we can lower our carbon footprint while simultaneously building a wall of resilience around our farming communities,” he said.
The project will be implemented by the National Environment Management Authority as the accredited entity, working alongside the Water Resources Authority and the Kenya Meteorological Department. It will focus on strengthening climate-reresilient water infrastructure, enhancing ecosystem restoration and improving climate information systems in the Upper Athi River Catchment.
The NEMA Chairman, Emilio Mugo stated that NEMA has walked the journey with GCF since 2016. He noted that the relationship with GCF has seen the Authority benefit from capacity building initiatives through the readiness program and project preparation facility. He underscored that the board has put strategic policy direction to ensure the Authority delivers on its mandate. The Chairman added that the Authority has identified climate action as a key result area in recognition of the country role in advancing the climate agenda.
The Chairman noted that the upper Athi River catchment plays a critical role in supporting livelihoods of thousands of households, sustaining biodiversity and driving economic activities. Despite this, the catchment has faced various challenges ranging from deforestation, water over abstraction, pollution, land degradation among others. This had made communities downstream vulnerable to droughts and regular floods.
NEMA Director General, Dr. Mamo B. Mamo, EBS stated that the project will help the country invest in climate resilient infrastructure including construction and rehabilitation of water pans, boreholes and sand dams and other water facilities to ensure reliable water supply. The DG urged the County Governments and other institutions to fully embrace the project as the communities are the centre of the activities to be undertaken.
Dr. Mamo emphasized that the success of the project will depend on the ownership and participation of affected communities. He appreciated the GCF for approving the grant project the country and the national treasury as the designated authority and the national focal point of GCF. The DG also appreciated the executing entities for supporting various components of the project stating that their technical expertise will go a long way in ensuring the success of the project.
As implementation begins, leaders called for transparency, accountability and collective responsibility to ensure the programme delivers lasting benefits to communities and secures a resilient, water-secure future for Kenya.
In attendance were, Governor of Nyandarua County, H.E Dr. Kiarie Badilisha, CECM Kiambu David Kuria, CECM Machakos Onesmus Muia, Ag. Director KMD Mr. Edward M. Muriuki, the WRA Board, led by Chairperson Donald Murgor and CEO Mohamed Shurie.
The project will be implemented in four Counties namely; Nyandarua, Kiambu, Nairobi and Machakos. The project aims to strengthen the resilience to climate change of communities, and increase water security in the area.
Source: Nema
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