BOMET COUNTY — The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and Strathmore University have launched a joint study to determine the full economic value of Kenya’s three key water towers Mau Forest Complex, Cherangani Hills, and Loita Hills. The project, part of the TEEBAgriFood initiative, seeks to go beyond measuring forest products and water access to evaluate broader ecosystem services.
The study aims to equip policymakers with data to better understand how nature supports Kenya’s food systems. The project is expected to help leaders make informed decisions that account for the true value of ecosystems, including water regulation, biodiversity, soil preservation, and climate stability.
“We are looking at supporting the government, policy makers, and communities to recognize the importance of natural capital in decision-making,” said Professor Jacqueline McGlade, the lead researcher from Strathmore Business School, during a meeting in Buret, Bomet County.
McGlade explained that the study will compare different farming methods, assess climate impacts, analyze shifting consumption habits, and evaluate current investment strategies. She noted that the long-term goal is to help transition Kenya’s food systems toward greater resilience to climate shocks while improving environmental conditions and public well-being.
The Mau, Cherangani, and Loita water towers play a crucial role in sustaining communities by supplying clean water and supporting agriculture and biodiversity. However, rising population pressure, land conversion for farming, and deforestation have significantly weakened these ecosystems. McGlade said this degradation has reduced river flows, lowered agricultural output, and exposed rural populations to climate-related risks.
A study conducted by Strathmore between 2017 and 2022 revealed that the total length of rivers in the Mau Forest declined from 7,000 kilometers in the 1960s to 4,000 kilometers by 2019. Restoration projects launched in 2022, which focused on planting indigenous trees along riverbanks, helped recover 930 kilometers of surface water networks.
“Areas with higher soil carbon and less intensive farming showed stronger resistance to floods and droughts,” McGlade said.
The current project spans nine counties Nakuru, Baringo, Nandi, Narok, Kericho, Bomet, Uasin Gishu, Elgeyo Marakwet, and West Pokot. These regions are vital to Kenya’s ecological balance and are heavily reliant on agriculture and forestry for income, jobs, and food production.
The project will also work with local volunteers known as “citizen scientists” to gather environmental data and understand the main forces driving land-use change. This approach aims to create evidence-based pathways for sustainable farming and environmental protection.
McGlade emphasized that the goal is to generate solid economic evidence that can guide positive policy changes. “We want to produce findings that help develop practical, measurable strategies for building sustainable and shock-resistant food systems in Kenya,” she said.
The partnership comes at a time when Kenya’s food system is under pressure from erratic weather, prolonged droughts, changing rainfall patterns, and disruptions in global trade. The decline in agricultural exports has added urgency to efforts focused on sustainable land management and ecosystem restoration.
The TEEBAgriFood project is expected to support national and local authorities by improving their ability to evaluate both the benefits and the hidden costs of food production. This knowledge is intended to lead to coordinated policy changes that support long-term sustainability.
