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UPPER TANA-NAIROBI WATER FUND TRUST

Our Stories

We have gathered many beautiful moments during our journey

Anna and Joseph Gatheru's farm in the foothills of Mt. Kenya. They grow "food crops": beans, maize, vegetables. Joseph Gatheru was the first farmer in the area to have a water pan. Before the water pan, he could only grow and sell crops in the rainy season when everyone else could. So the price for his vegetables was very low. Now with the water pan they can grow and sell vegetables in the dry season and get a high price (cabbage, kale, courgette, beans, beetroot, potatoes, carrots, cucumber). Location: Kamahuri, Nyeri County.
A visit to the Ndakaini dam. The twins Joy and Joan are so excited to play in the water but they can't swim so they won't venture too far out. The twins sing and dance on the way back to the farm teasing Susan. *** Family: James Kariuki Area: Gatanga Region, Thika Farm type: Tea plantation on the foothills of Ndakaini Dam. The dam supplies 88% of water to Nairobi city. The water source is the Aberdare mountains. Family members at home: 1. Esther Wanjiru Kariuki, Mama- 60 years old, gave birth to 11 children all at home without outside help! 2. James Kariuki, Father, 66 years old 3. Joel Ruku Kariuki, Son, 19 years old 4. Susan Gathoni Kariuki, Daughter, 17 years old 5. Simon Mwangi Kariuki, Youngest son, 15 years old - 11 children in total - 9 grandchildren in total - Twins Joy Wairimu Wangari and Joan Wanjiru Wangari (11 years old) are visiting their grandparents for their Christmas holidays. They spend 2 months here. NWF Sustainable Farming practices: - have a water pan with tilapia fish which they will sell at 200/300 kshs - use water pan during the dry season (they are prohibited to use the dam water on their farms) - terracing for vegetables taught by NWF representative Carol - have planted more Avocado trees as a cash crop as instructed by NWF representative Carol - only buy flour, sugar, sometimes bread and oil. The rest they grow on their farms. -Have chickens, rabbits, a goat and a cow for milk daily - use fire wood from the farm as fuel for cooking Food crops: Arrow root Black night shade (spinach) Kale (sukumawiki) Cabbage Cash crops: - avocado - tea - kale, cabbage, spinach - Tea- 1KG sold at 10 shillings plus 40-50 kgs bonus per kg paid at year end. Approx 400kg of tea per month. Daily schedule: - 6:00 am mama and baba wake up to pray in their room (you can hear them from my room) - 6:30 am start boiling water and milk the cow. TV switched on to gospel music. - 7:00 am Chai (milk with a tint of tea) and breakfast (left over dinner from the
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Location: Pangani district in Nairobi. Jacinta Ng'ang'a, 60 years old, lives in a one bedroom/1 bathroom apartment with her husband and two adult children. Her 3 other children have moved out. She is a business woman selling soaps, tissue paper and clothes in whole sale. She gets running water 3 days a week (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) so she "harvests water"/refills all her jerry cans to last the week. Her kitchen and bathroom are full of water buckets, bottles and jerry cans. She often stores enough water to last a few weeks because they may not have running water for two weeks straight. Sometimes she has to purchase water at 20 litres/50shillings. Today Jane Wanjiku Njuguna (15 years old) and Nicole Wanjiku Njuguna (3 years old) are visiting their guardian/grandmother at her home.
Gikururu falls/river in the Aberdare mountains feed into the Guru river which empties into the Sagana and ultimately feeds the Tana river.
TNC Kenya's team planted approximately 2000 tree seedlings in a secondary school and three neighbouring farms in South Kinangop. Species planted were agroforestry and fruit trees as well as indigenous trees. The NWF interns names are as follows: Cyrus Shikhalo Kaitano Florence Wanjiku Mugi Magdalene Wangechi Wang’ondu Janelisper Waithira Kariuki John Ng’ang’a Gathagu.
Anna and Joseph Gatheru's farm in the foothills of Mt. Kenya. They grow "food crops": beans, maize, vegetables. Joseph Gatheru was the first farmer in the area to have a water pan. Before the water pan, he could only grow and sell crops in the rainy season when everyone else could. So the price for his vegetables was very low. Now with the water pan they can grow and sell vegetables in the dry season and get a high price (cabbage, kale, courgette, beans, beetroot, potatoes, carrots, cucumber). Location: Kamahuri, Nyeri County.
James (in a brown hat) and Esther Kariuki on their tea plantation. Some images have James proudly showing Anthony Kariuki, the NWF manager wearing a blue shirt, his tea farm. The Ndakaini dam in the background. *** Family: James Kariuki Area: Gatanga Region, Thika Farm type: Tea plantation on the foothills of Ndakaini Dam. The dam supplies 88% of water to Nairobi city. The water source is the Aberdare mountains. Family members at home: 1. Esther Wanjiru Kariuki, Mama- 60 years old, gave birth to 11 children all at home without outside help! 2. James Kariuki, Father, 66 years old 3. Joel Ruku Kariuki, Son, 19 years old 4. Susan Gathoni Kariuki, Daughter, 17 years old 5. Simon Mwangi Kariuki, Youngest son, 15 years old - 11 children in total - 9 grandchildren in total - Twins Joy Wairimu Wangari and Joan Wanjiru Wangari (11 years old) are visiting their grandparents for their Christmas holidays. They spend 2 months here. NWF Sustainable Farming practices: - have a water pan with tilapia fish which they will sell at 200/300 kshs - use water pan during the dry season (they are prohibited to use the dam water on their farms) - terracing for vegetables taught by NWF representative Carol - have planted more Avocado trees as a cash crop as instructed by NWF representative Carol - only buy flour, sugar, sometimes bread and oil. The rest they grow on their farms. -Have chickens, rabbits, a goat and a cow for milk daily - use fire wood from the farm as fuel for cooking Food crops: Arrow root Black night shade (spinach) Kale (sukumawiki) Cabbage Cash crops: - avocado - tea - kale, cabbage, spinach - Tea- 1KG sold at 10 shillings plus 40-50 kgs bonus per kg paid at year end. Approx 400kg of tea per month. Daily schedule: - 6:00 am mama and baba wake up to pray in their room (you can hear them from my room) - 6:30 am start boiling water and milk the cow. TV switched on to gospel music. - 7:00 am Chai (milk with a tint of tea) and breakfast (left over dinner from the
(ALL INTERNAL RIGHTS, LIMITED EXTERNAL RIGHTS) June 2015. A young woman picking tea leaves on a tea plantation in the Upper Tana Watershed, Kenya. The Nature Conservancy is working to protect the Upper Tana Watershed in Kenya and provide cleaner, more reliable water for Nairobi. Photo credit: © Nick Hall
This is Jane Njoroge at the gauge monitoring station at Gura River. The WARMA team, who have partnered with the NWF, come at least once a month with their equipment to measure water quality (sediment levels), water quantity (volumn) and use a Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP)- the boat looking tool-to measure the depth, width and flow of the water. WARMA employs 2 locals to measure the water levels twice a day using the water stick. WARMA team: Faith Mbathi (wearing waders), Jane Njoroge (big hair), Wangombe Thuku (bearded man), Michael Muthoro (computer guy).
Chania waterfalls/river in the Aberdare mountains feed into the Guru river which empties into the Sagana and ultimately feeds the Tana river.
Beatrice Manyua with her husband Elijah own this tea plantation in the hills of Othaya, Nyeri County. Beatrice has implemented terracing for her "food crops"- maize, beans, cabbage. She will be recieving the tarp for her water pan soon. Beatrice picks tea leaves from her plantation from 8am-noon and then again in the afternoon. She picks up to 30kgs of tea leaves per day. Has 3 children.
Gauge monitoring station at Gura River. The WARMA team, who have partnered with the NWF, come at least once a month with their equipment to measure water quality (sediment levels), water quantity (volumn) and use a Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP)- the boat looking tool-to measure the depth, width and flow of the water. WARMA employs 2 locals to measure the water levels twice a day using the water stick. WARMA team: Faith Mbathi (wearing waders), Jane Njoroge (big hair), Wangombe Thuku (bearded man), Michael Muthoro (computer guy).
Location: Pangani district in Nairobi. Jacinta Ng'ang'a, 60 years old, lives in a one bedroom/1 bathroom apartment with her husband and two adult children. Her 3 other children have moved out. She is a business woman selling soaps, tissue paper and clothes in whole sale. She gets running water 3 days a week (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) so she "harvests water"/refills all her jerry cans to last the week. Her kitchen and bathroom are full of water buckets, bottles and jerry cans. She often stores enough water to last a few weeks because they may not have running water for two weeks straight. Sometimes she has to purchase water at 20 litres/50shillings. Today Jane Wanjiku Njuguna (15 years old) and Nicole Wanjiku Njuguna (3 years old) are visiting their guardian/grandmother at her home.
River monitoring acitivities with the National Museums of Kenya (NMK). Two sites visited: the northern ridge of the Aberdares Forest, and one just off the Othaya - Nyeri road. G NMK technicians: Gilbert Cosgei (macro-invertebrate expert wearing dark t-shirt and overalls) and Frankie Juma (Ornithology intern with NMK). Gilbert is looking for macro-invertebrates in the riverbed to 1) document the types of species found in the river and 2) to see if there's been human distrubance in the river. The macro-invertebrates found in the river were stonefllies, mayflies and crabs. Gilbert said “macro-invertebrates like stoneflies and mayflies tell you a lot about the river. Any disturbance, any pollution, the more sensitive species will disappear. So you can use them to monitor the effects of human activities.” Birds photographed: African black duck and African Harrier Hawk.
Faith Mbathi with Wangombe Thuku at the gauge monitoring station at Gura River. The WARMA team, who have partnered with the NWF, come at least once a month with their equipment to measure water quality (sediment levels), water quantity (volumn) and use a Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP)- the boat looking tool-to measure the depth, width and flow of the water. WARMA employs 2 locals to measure the water levels twice a day using the water stick. WARMA team: Faith Mbathi (wearing waders), Jane Njoroge (big hair), Wangombe Thuku (bearded man), Michael Muthoro (computer guy).
River monitoring acitivities with the National Museums of Kenya (NMK). Two sites visited: the northern ridge of the Aberdares Forest, and one just off the Othaya - Nyeri road. G NMK technicians: Gilbert Cosgei (macro-invertebrate expert wearing dark t-shirt and overalls) and Frankie Juma (Ornithology intern with NMK). Gilbert is looking for macro-invertebrates in the riverbed to 1) document the types of species found in the river and 2) to see if there's been human distrubance in the river. The macro-invertebrates found in the river were stonefllies, mayflies and crabs. Gilbert said “macro-invertebrates like stoneflies and mayflies tell you a lot about the river. Any disturbance, any pollution, the more sensitive species will disappear. So you can use them to monitor the effects of human activities.” Birds photographed: African black duck and African Harrier Hawk.
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The Aberdare mountains are the source of the Tana River. In the Aberdare National Park: elephants, giant forest hogs (native to wooded areas and only found in this national park in all of Kenya), young hyenas, buffalos. Chania waterfalls/river and Gikururu falls/river in the Aberdare mountains feed into the Guru river which empties into the Sagana and ultimately feeds the Tana river.
Chania waterfalls/river in the Aberdare mountains feed into the Guru river which empties into the Sagana and ultimately feeds the Tana river.
Beatrice Manyua with her husband Elijah own this tea plantation in the hills of Othaya, Nyeri County. Beatrice has implemented terracing for her "food crops"- maize, beans, cabbage. She will be recieving the tarp for her water pan soon. Beatrice picks tea leaves from her plantation from 8am-noon and then again in the afternoon. She picks up to 30kgs of tea leaves per day. Has 3 children.
(ALL INTERNAL RIGHTS, LIMITED EXTERNAL RIGHTS) June 2015. Tea plantation in the Upper Tana Watershed, Kenya. The Nature Conservancy is working to protect the Upper Tana Watershed in Kenya and provide cleaner, more reliable water for Nairobi. Photo credit: © Nick Hall
Gikururu falls/river in the Aberdare mountains feed into the Guru river which empties into the Sagana and ultimately feeds the Tana river.
(ALL INTERNAL RIGHTS, LIMITED EXTERNAL RIGHTS) June 2015. A young woman picking tea leaves on a tea plantation in the Upper Tana Watershed, Kenya. The Nature Conservancy is working to protect the Upper Tana Watershed in Kenya and provide cleaner, more reliable water for Nairobi. Photo credit: © Nick Hall
James (in a brown hat) and Esther Kariuki on their tea plantation. Some images have James proudly showing Anthony Kariuki, the NWF manager wearing a blue shirt, his tea farm. The Ndakaini dam in the background. *** Family: James Kariuki Area: Gatanga Region, Thika Farm type: Tea plantation on the foothills of Ndakaini Dam. The dam supplies 88% of water to Nairobi city. The water source is the Aberdare mountains. Family members at home: 1. Esther Wanjiru Kariuki, Mama- 60 years old, gave birth to 11 children all at home without outside help! 2. James Kariuki, Father, 66 years old 3. Joel Ruku Kariuki, Son, 19 years old 4. Susan Gathoni Kariuki, Daughter, 17 years old 5. Simon Mwangi Kariuki, Youngest son, 15 years old - 11 children in total - 9 grandchildren in total - Twins Joy Wairimu Wangari and Joan Wanjiru Wangari (11 years old) are visiting their grandparents for their Christmas holidays. They spend 2 months here. NWF Sustainable Farming practices: - have a water pan with tilapia fish which they will sell at 200/300 kshs - use water pan during the dry season (they are prohibited to use the dam water on their farms) - terracing for vegetables taught by NWF representative Carol - have planted more Avocado trees as a cash crop as instructed by NWF representative Carol - only buy flour, sugar, sometimes bread and oil. The rest they grow on their farms. -Have chickens, rabbits, a goat and a cow for milk daily - use fire wood from the farm as fuel for cooking Food crops: Arrow root Black night shade (spinach) Kale (sukumawiki) Cabbage Cash crops: - avocado - tea - kale, cabbage, spinach - Tea- 1KG sold at 10 shillings plus 40-50 kgs bonus per kg paid at year end. Approx 400kg of tea per month. Daily schedule: - 6:00 am mama and baba wake up to pray in their room (you can hear them from my room) - 6:30 am start boiling water and milk the cow. TV switched on to gospel music. - 7:00 am Chai (milk with a tint of tea) and breakfast (left over dinner from the
Chania waterfalls/river in the Aberdare mountains feed into the Guru river which empties into the Sagana and ultimately feeds the Tana river.

Some of the methods that are used to protect the natural systems and generate value throughout the watershed...

Further Reading

When coffee producing countries are mentioned in East Africa, Ethiopia and Uganda will come in mind. Kenya, on the other hand, is known for producing some of the finest high-altitude Arabica coffee in the world.

Ethiopia, for example, is a significant coffee producer with an annual yield of… Read more.

By: John Gathagu

For decades, forests on steep hillsides in the Upper Tana catchment have been slowly converted to agriculture. Reduced soil productivity from erosion and competition for space has forced farmers to cultivate on even steeper and steeper slopes. During the rainy season, the soil is quickly… Read more.

By: John Gathagu

The agricultural sector in sub-Saharan Africa employs more than 50% of the total labour force and provides a source of livelihood for millions of smallholder farmers. For years, agriculture in Kenya has been influenced by both… Read more.

By: John Gathagu

Gura river has its source from the Aberdare Forest and is 45 km long. It crosses Nyeri South, Tetu, and Mukurweini sub-counties before joining the Sagana river to Masinga dam which is the main storage for the hydropower generation. It is referred to as the fastest flowing river in East Africa and its main tributary is the Gikira river. There is a population of about… Read more.

By:

  • Sabina Kiarie – County Extension Officer, Nyeri County, Upper Tana Nairobi Water Fund.
  • John Gathagu – Knowledge Management Coordinator, Upper Tana Nairobi Water Fund.

Coffee in Kenya is largely grown by more than 700,000 smallholder farmers in over 88,000 Ha of land in 32 counties. Over 99% of the coffee produced is Arabica that is usually rainfed. Coffee farmers use both organic and inorganic fertilizers to improve coffee production on their lands. During the rainy seasons, the nutrients are… Read more.

By:

  • Sabina Kiarie – County Extension Officer, Nyeri County, Upper Tana Nairobi Water Fund.
  • John Gathagu – Knowledge Management Coordinator, Upper Tana Nairobi Water Fund.

Farming activities and income diversification in Sasumua has greatly evolved over the last decade. Improved road networks, advanced communication platforms and modern technology which were unavailable in the past rendered farming a poor man’s career. Mainly, farming was left with the aged while the young generation recamped to the urban centres to look for more paying jobs. Read more.

By:

  • Peter Muchai – Income Diversification Through High Value Crops In Sasumua Watershed.
  • Joseph Ngure – County Agricultural Officer, SACDEP.

The hardest thing for a low social class farmer is to identify the best and most productive enterprise he/she can put all her effort into. In most cases, they will engage in all possible production enterprises. For example, keep a cow for milk, grow some vegetables, pulses, and cereals in a small piece of land for the family and sell the very little surplus… Read more.

By: Maina John Mburu

Johnson Chege Maina, a 60- year-old farmer, is one of the squatters who were relocated from forested areas of Mount Kenya and resettled in Solio by the government of Kenya (GoK) in 2009. Chege resettled on his half-acre piece of land with his wife and 5 children and farms on his other 4 acres that was allocated to him by the government. Read more.

By Peter Voster Odhiambo

The water resources of Kenya are consistently affected by increasing demand due to the increasing population, industrialisation and changing lifestyles. To this end, Kenya has been described as a water-scarce country, with rapidly dropping freshwater availability. In 1992, the annual per capita water availability was about 647 m3. This dropped to 534 m3 per capita by 2011… Read more.

By: George Njugi – Field Conservation Coordinator, Upper Tana Nairobi Water Fund Odhiambo

Solio is in Laikipia County and it was acquired from the Larger Solio Game Ranch which is situated at the leeward side of Mt. Kenya. Solio is relatively flat, predominated with black cotton soils, and experiences binomial rainfall with an annual average of about 700 mm per year. It, therefore, has a semi-arid condition with very high temperatures at daytime and very cold at night with severe frosts. Read more.

By: George Njugi – Field Conservation Coordinator

The abuse of the elderly and people living with disabilities by family members is a major concern that dates back to ancient times (World Health Organisation Chapter 5; abuse of the elderly). The abuse of elderly people may be defined as an act of commission or omission also referred to as neglect, whereby it may be either intentional or unintentional. Read more.

By: Deborah Kariuki

Soil and water are natural resources that our lives depend on. These are often depleted if not used with great care, hence conservation of these resources is paramount to support the creation even for generations.
Upper Tana Nairobi Water Fund (UTNWF)/ The Nature Conservancy (TNC), is working with farmers in the Upper Tana River basin (Sagana and Gura tributaries) in a project aimed at conserving the Tana river which is of great importance to the Kenyan economy. Read more.

By: Jimton Mugambi – Intern Sagana-Gura Subwatershed

About Us

Upper Tana-Nairobi Water Fund addresses threats to water security at their source through smart, local and long-term investments in watershed conservation and management.

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Athi Water Plaza Office Complex
P.O. Box 76716 – 00620,
Nairobi – Kenya
+254 793 408049
conservation@nairobiwaterfund.org
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