Mount Elgon, towering majestically along the Kenya-Uganda border, is more than just a geographical landmark.
At 4,321 meters above sea level, it is a vital water tower supporting millions of lives in Western Kenya and beyond.
The mountain feeds major rivers like Nzoia, Turkwel, and Malakisi, which provide a lifeline for households, farms, and industries on their way to Lake Victoria.
Yet, beneath this idyllic façade lies a growing crisis of climate change and human activity endangering the resources that sustain life.
Deforestation, rising temperatures, and erratic rainfall have diminished surface water flows and groundwater levels. Communities that once relied on nature’s bounty now face unprecedented challenges, especially those dependent on irrigation to keep their farms alive.
A Lifeline Amid a Crisis
Naibei Harrison from Chemwenda village in Kopsiro says groundwater has become a beacon of hope in the face of worsening droughts.
A father of four, Naibei recounts how his two-acre onion farm withered under the scorching sun in 2023.
“We relied on rainfall, but the rains became unpredictable, and I lost everything,” he says.
Determined to avoid such losses again, Naibei drilled a 32-foot borehole on his land, investing KSh25,000 (approximately $204).
Powered by a solar pump, the borehole now supplies water for irrigating his crops.
“This borehole saved me,” he says further noting that, “but even this water source depends on how well we manage our environment.”
BELOW: Groundwater potential of the Mt. Elgon aquifer region. Map by NBI.
Underground Reservoir Under Threat
Mount Elgon’s aquifer has long provided a reliable water source for both domestic and agricultural use.
However, experts warn that this lifeline is severely threatened due to deforestation, over-extraction, and a lack of sustainable water management practices.
According to the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI), groundwater is an indispensable resource in addressing water scarcity and sustaining livelihoods, particularly in the face of climate change.
Groundwater from Mt. Elgon’s aquifer supports both the Kenyan and Ugandan sides of the mountain, serving as a critical buffer during periods of drought.
However, deforestation, agricultural expansion, and poor land management are causing rapid depletion.
An NBI study revealed that forest cover in the Mt. Elgon region declined by 20% between 1990 and 2015, leading to a significant drop in groundwater recharge rates.
This depletion has exacerbated the vulnerability of local communities to climate variability.
“Forests and wetlands are essential for maintaining groundwater quality and quantity,” says an NBI representative. “They act as natural sponges, capturing rainwater and replenishing aquifers. Without them, the balance is lost.”
The Double-Edged Sword
While irrigation has allowed farmers to adapt to climate change, it has also placed immense pressure on groundwater resources.
Naibei, for instance, has revived his onion farm using water from his borehole, but he knows this solution isn’t permanent.
“If everyone drills boreholes without proper regulation, we’ll all run out of water,” he warns.
The NBI emphasizes the importance of sustainable irrigation practices. According to their research, traditional flood irrigation wastes up to 40% of water due to evaporation and runoff.
In contrast, modern methods like drip and sprinkler irrigation can reduce water use by 50-70%, ensuring that groundwater reserves are not depleted unnecessarily.
A Coordinated Response
The Nile Basin Initiative has launched a five-year $5.3 million project to address groundwater challenges in the Mt. Elgon region and other shared aquifers within the Nile Basin.
Funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and implemented through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the project aims to strengthen knowledge of the interdependence of surface water and groundwater resources, build community capacity for sustainable water management and conservation, and promote cross-border collaboration between Kenya and Uganda to manage shared resources.
One key component of the project is enhancing communities’ role in decision-making. By involving local stakeholders, NBI hopes to integrate Indigenous knowledge with scientific research to develop effective conservation strategies.
The Economic Impact
The declining availability of groundwater has had a ripple effect on local economies. Agriculture, the backbone of livelihoods around Mt. Elgon has suffered significant losses.
In 2023, a report by the NBI highlighted that crop yields in the region had dropped by 30% over the past decade due to water shortages.
For farmers like Naibei, the cost of drilling boreholes is a heavy financial burden. Many must rely on loans or sell assets to fund these projects. “It’s a gamble,” says Naibei. “If the borehole dries up, I lose everything.”
The Urgency of Action
“We must educate our communities about the importance of protecting forests and planting trees,” says Fred Ndiwa, a resident of Mt Elgon.
He calls for government-led programs to train farmers on sustainable irrigation and groundwater use.
Conservation officer George Wara underscores the importance of a multi-stakeholder approach.
“Mount Elgon Forest is critical to groundwater recharge. We need stricter measures to curb deforestation and encourage reforestation,” he adds.
Innovative Solutions for Sustainable Irrigation
To reduce the strain on groundwater, NBI advocates for adopting water-efficient irrigation technologies.
Solar-powered pumps, like the one Naibei uses, are cost-effective and environmentally friendly. Drip irrigation systems, which deliver water directly to plants’ roots, are also gaining traction.
The initiative is also exploring nature-based solutions such as restoring wetlands to enhance groundwater recharge and reduce surface runoff.
Pilot projects in the Mt. Elgon region have shown that these methods can increase water availability during dry spells by up to 30%.
This story was produced with support from NBI Secretariat (Nile-Sec), which, in partnership with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and with funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF), implemented a program across the Nile Basin focused on shared groundwater aquifers. The project’s goal was to improve water resource management at both the national and basin levels.
The first phase concentrated on building knowledge and capacity for the sustainable use and management of significant transboundary aquifers within the Nile Basin. Three aquifer areas were selected for intervention: the Kagera aquifer shared by Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Burundi; the Mt Elgon aquifer shared by Uganda and Kenya; and the Gedaref-Adigrat aquifer shared by Sudan and Ethiopia. These aquifers are located in various climates, including arid, semi-arid, and tropical regions.
Initially, the phase involved gathering existing data and creating a Shared Aquifer Diagnostic Report (SADA) for the three selected aquifers. The subsequent phase engaged in groundwater modeling to enhance understanding of the aquifers and analyze scenarios based on changes in climate and groundwater use.
