NAKURU – Egerton University is preparing to hand over the rehabilitated Entiyian catchment area, a vital source of the Njoro River, to the Narok County Government. The university has been at the forefront of the rehabilitation efforts for 11 years, aiming to address the environmental degradation of the river.

According to Kenya News Agency, Academics, Research, and Extension Prof. Bernard Aduda, the university initiated the rehabilitation project in 2012, recognizing the urgent need to mitigate the negative impacts of river degradation. The project was a collaboration between the university and the local Maa community. Together, they secured the river’s source in Olkruto area, Narok North Sub County, and reclaimed a section of the river near a dumpsite in Njoro Sub County.

Prof. Aduda noted that the university would soon hand over these sites to the respective county governments for future management and conservation. He emphasized the importance of the rehabilitation, which was critical to addressing the environmental challenges that severely affected communities in both Narok and Nakuru counties.

The Deputy Vice Chancellor, who also serves as the Chair of the Mau-Egerton University Cross Country, was accompanied by Prof. Charles M’Erimba and the Institution’s Communication Manager Ms. Agnes Murugi during a visit to the catchment area. They later met with Narok County Commissioner Isaac Masinde and Narok Chief of Staff Francis Wanyeki to discuss the handover event scheduled for February 23, 2024.

The project faced several challenges, including siltation, local community encroachment, and the misuse of planted trees for firewood. To overcome these obstacles, Egerton University collaborated with various partners, including Co-operative Bank, KCB Bank, and media houses, to rehabilitate the land.

Masinde advised local authorities to play a proactive role in protecting the catchment land, emphasizing the importance of arresting individuals who cut down trees and harm the river source.

The Njoro River, a critical waterway in the region, stretches over 60 kilometers, passing through Neissuit, Mauche, Ngata, and Barut in Nakuru County, and eventually flows into Lake Nakuru.