Mayoni Watershed Conservation & Climate Resilience Initiative

Total Project Cost: $48,827

Project Location: Mayoni Ward, Kakamega County, Kenya

Project & Program Background

The Mayoni Watershed Conservation and Climate Resilience Initiative is a collaborative effort to restore, protect, and sustainably manage the Mayoni watershed—an essential water source for surrounding schools, health centers, and rural households in Kakamega County. The 13,400-hectare watershed supports domestic water use, smallholder agriculture, and biodiversity but has suffered from deforestation, sand harvesting, and poor land use. Implemented by SAWASHI and Bio-Innovations for Sustainable Development (BISD) with WEFTA’s support, this one-year initiative combines watershed rehabilitation, water supply improvements, and climate-smart livelihood development to strengthen community resilience and water security.

Community Background

The Mayoni area lies within the lower Nzoia River Basin, where fertile soils and high rainfall once supported vibrant small-scale farming. However, land degradation, erosion, and erratic rainfall—exacerbated by climate change—have reduced soil fertility, agricultural yields, and access to clean water. Local households and institutions such as schools and health facilities depend on unprotected springs and seasonal streams, which run dry during drought periods. Protecting these sources is critical to safeguarding both livelihoods and ecosystem health.

Water, Sanitation and Health (WASH) Concerns

Unregulated land use has led to silting, contamination, and drying of key springs. The resulting seasonal water shortages affect households, schools, and clinics, compromising sanitation and hygiene. The degradation of riparian zones further limits groundwater recharge and increases vulnerability to flooding and erosion. This initiative addresses these challenges by integrating WASH system improvements with environmental restoration and sustainable farming practices.

Proposed Project

The initiative aims to rehabilitate the Mayoni watershed and enhance resilience through practical WASH and environmental interventions. Activities will include:

• Spring Protection & Water Access: Upgrading the Kholera Riverside Green Spring into a piped water system with reservoirs, tap stands, and trained water-user committees.
• Riparian Restoration: Establishing nurseries and planting 5,000 indigenous trees and 500,000 vetiver stems to stabilize 3 km of riverbank and restore riparian ecosystems.
• Climate-Smart Livelihoods: Training 50 farmers—at least half women and 30% youth—in soil and water conservation, arrow root farming, and beekeeping for income diversification.
• Community Awareness: Hosting an annual Watershed Wellness Day to promote conservation education and replanting efforts.

These interventions will help restore the watershed’s natural capacity to retain water, improve groundwater recharge, and ensure reliable access to clean water for more than 2,000 residents.

Sustainability & Community Engagement

The project is rooted in community participation and WEFTA’s Monitoring, Evaluation, Resolution and Learning (MERL) methodology. Local residents will provide in-kind labor, manage nurseries, and serve on water-user committees to oversee spring maintenance and riparian protection. Training programs and farmer field schools will strengthen local capacity in sustainable land management. Long-term sustainability will be monitored and will be reinforced through economic incentives—such as honey and arrow root production—and alignment with Kakamega County’s environmental management policies to enable replication and scale-up. 

WEFTA Volunteers

WEFTA volunteers will provide technical guidance in watershed hydrology, WASH system design, and solar-powered water supply integration. Their oversight will ensure high-quality construction, efficient use of resources, and measurable conservation outcomes.

If you would like additional information about this project, please contact us.