EABL commits KShs 190 million to Kenya’s water conservation strategy

By Staff Writer

Eric Kiniti, Group Corporate Relations Director – EABL signs a cheque worth Ksh 60 million during pre-world water day stakeholders breakfast event at Ole Sereni Hotel. Looking (R to L on is Mr. Julius Korir, CBS, Principal Secretary, Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation, Eddy Njoroge, President, Upper Tana Nairobi Water Fund Trust (UTNWFT) and Laikipia Governor, Joshua Irungu. This is in addition to the $1 million pledge taken at the State House.

Nairobi, Kenya, March 20, 2024: East African Breweries PLC (EABL) has made a KShs 190 million commitment towards the restoration of water towers in Kenya to help mitigate the effects of climate change, reduce carbon emissions and reduce water scarcity, as the country marks the World Water Day this Friday.

The amount constitutes two tranches announced in the last two days as a part of collective action to support Kenya water conservation strategy, stem greenhouse emissions as well as halt and reverse deforestation.

EABL made the first commitment on Tuesday when Ms. Debra Crew, the CEO of Diageo (EABL’s parent company) met President William Ruto at State House, Nairobi. The investment is aimed at buttressing Kenya’s environmental ecosystems, which are facing constant threats from ongoing degradation, impacting ecological balance and community livelihoods.

The initiative, dubbed ‘Conservation at Scale’ is being spearheaded by The Executive Office of the President, through the Office of the Climate Envoy, with a view to offering high level critical direction and ensuring alignment with national climate objectives and the outcomes of the Africa Climate Summit 2023.

Further, EABL made the second Kshs 60 million commitment today to help scaled up water conservation and protection of Nairobi’s key water source, the Upper Tana, through the Upper Tana Nairobi Water Fund Trust (UTNWFT).

The funds will be used to fund UTNWFT’s initiatives in the water towers and other areas in the Upper Tana, which involves the public and private sectors both as users of the rivers’ waters and stewards of the areas where the rivers originate.

Speaking at the event, East African Breweries Plc’s Group Corporate Relations Director Eric Kiniti said the company’s commitment is driven by a deep sense of responsibility towards the environment, society, and its stakeholders.

At EABL, we have invested heavily in water conservation and recovery projects within our production facilities and in the areas where the water we depend on originates. We have invested Kshs 780 million in water recovery plants at our facilities in Nairobi and Kisumu, which together have the capacity to recover 1,968 cubic meters of water daily.

Through our partnership with UTNWFT and other stakeholders, we aim to improve water accessibility, availability, and quality in the region, ensuring a more sustainable and resilient future for all Through our partnership with UTNWFT and other stakeholders, we aim to improve water accessibility, availability, and quality in the region, ensuring a more sustainable and resilient future for all.
Eric Kiniti, Group Corporate Relations Director, EABL

He said the initiative’s ultimate beneficiaries would be the millions of people and wildlife that depend on the Tana River as a source of water for domestic, agricultural, and industrial use.

Julius Korir, Principal Secretary for Water and Sanitation said investments in water conservation efforts would go beyond enabling economic growth by reducing water scarcity for the 15 million Kenyans who lack access to water.

In 2023, KBL supported the Upper Tana Nairobi Water Fund with a KShs 5 million grant that went towards supporting farmers to plant more high-value fruit trees that will aid in curbing climate change while also providing food and additional income for the farmers.

World Water Day, observed annually on March 22, seeks to spark conversations, forge partnerships, and explore solutions to the pressing challenges related to water scarcity. In Kenya, the Upper Tana watershed is one example where collaborative public-private partnership is showing lasting impacts under the leadership of Upper Tana Nairobi Water Fund Trust.