By Abdullahi Lukman
Coca-Cola has committed $1.65 million to restore vital watersheds in Kenya’s Upper-Tana and Mid-Galana basins, aiming to improve water security for Nairobi and surrounding communities.
The project, carried out in partnership with The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and local community-based organisations, focuses on agroforestry, rainwater harvesting, and the planting of indigenous trees along riparian zones to enhance water quality and replenish key water sources, including Mzima Springs.
Additional efforts include the transformation of degraded farmlands and rangelands through sustainable land management.
Hundreds of farm ponds and fruit orchards will be established to support food security and create alternative livelihoods for local residents.
This initiative forms part of Coca-Cola’s broader Africa Water Stewardship Initiative, a $25 million commitment announced last year to tackle water challenges in 20 African countries by 2030.
The program is led by the Global Water Challenge and implemented by a consortium that includes TNC, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).
Company representatives emphasized the urgency of addressing growing water insecurity across Africa and highlighted the importance of collaborative, community-based solutions.
Coca-Cola Beverages Kenya (CCBK) pledged continued support for local water resource protection, especially in regions facing severe water stress.
TNC Kenya Country Director, Ruth Masha, affirmed that nature-based solutions and grassroots engagement are key to achieving long-term water security for people and ecosystems across the continent.
