Nakuru County is working towards the implementation of a “sponge city” concept to combat the adverse effects of climate-change in a Ksh3.8 billion ($29.4 million) collaboration between the Nakuru County government, Netherlands (Water as Leverage/RVO) and UN-HABITAT.

The project, a first of its kind in Africa, aims at transforming Nakuru into a “Sponge City” by integrating nature-based solutions to manage the city’s urgent water and flooding challenges.

The sponge city’s concept will enable the county use available resources to reduce climate change risks by offering a potential solution to control the damage caused by floods, droughts, landslides among others. The concept is also expected to help promote sustainable social, economic and water climate resilience to accelerate climate change adaptation.

The initiative, known as Water as Leverage (WaL) programme will integrate nature-based solutions – such as urban wetlands, green roofs, porous pavements and restored waterways through which the city will absorb, clean and store rainwater to enhance resilience and water safety.

Deputy Governor David Kones expressed Nakuru County’s commitment to kick-start the project to ensure it delivers tangible benefits to city residents by protecting them from the increasing threat of climate change.

Kones assured a delegation from VEI (Dutch Water Operators) and International consortium of partners of the County government’s commitment towards the successful implementation of the multibillion project.

Kones, who discussed the critical task of financing and the modalities of collaboration between the County, the national government and key development partners noted that the initiative was a critical step toward enhancing urban resilience and improving the quality of life for residents by addressing the “too much, too little and too dirty water” challenges.

Kones said Nakuru County government was committed to working hand-in-hand with all the stakeholders to manage excessive storm water, reduce flooding in high-risk areas and provide water during dry spells.

The project targets three high vulnerability zones identified for their impact on water retention and flood mitigation that include Menengai Crater Reforestation, Nakuru City Centre Urban Greening that will introduce permeable pavements and urban greening solutions to reduce flash floods, as well as the Njoro River restoration programme.

The “sponge city” concept integrates green infrastructure such as parks, rooftops and urban forests to absorb rainwater while revitalising blue infrastructure like rivers and wetlands to improve storm water management and biodiversity.

A sponge city is intended to passively absorb, clean and use rainfall in an environmentally friendly manner, reducing pollution and hazardous run-off.

Sponge cities rely on natural resources such as lakes, rivers, grass and soil to create absorbent ground surfaces that allow rainwater to be stored by mimicking natural water retention.

A rapid spike in population, unplanned urbanization, climate change, uncontrolled land-filling to develop new residential areas, haphazard disposal of waste into the existing drainage system and encroachment of lakes, canals and rivers have contributed heavily to flash floods that have been witnessed in Nakuru County.

• A Tell Media / KNA report / By Jane Ngugi