Environment CS Prof. Judy Wakhungu in Eldoret on December 18, 2017. [Photo: Twitter/ @JudiWakhungu]
The national government has reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with devolved units and other partners in supporting initiatives aimed at conserving the environment.
Environment Cabinet Secretary Prof. Judy Wakhungu has named protecting water towers as one of the projects the government has taken a key interest in.
The project is funded by the European Union (EU) seeks to eradicate poverty through enhancing the productivity of ecosystem services of the country's ecosystem.
Speaking in Eldoret on Monday when she officially opened a county sensitisation workshop on Water Tower Protection and Climate Change Mitigation Programme, Prof. Wakhungu reiterated the need for communities to take the lead in supporting the project.
"Communities must lead and take advantage of this project to protect water towers and improve livelihoods," said the CS.
"As a government, we will work closely with all the stakeholders to see to it that this initiative succeeds," she added.
The Sh3.6 billion project targets 11 counties that are within the Mt. Elgon and Cherangany Hills ecosystems.
The counties that have been allocated Sh16 million under the initiative are Bungoma, Busia, Elgeyo Marakwet, Uasin Gishu, Kakamega, Kisumu, Vihiga, Trans Nzoia, West Pokot, Nandi, and Siaya.