Karai Wetland Conservation Area Order, 2023
Water Resources Authority
Download
Abstract: The Karai Wetland Conservation Area Order, 2023 formally protects the Karai Wetland in Kikuyu Sub-county, Kiambu County under the Water Act, 2016. The wetland serves as a vital groundwater recharge zone for the Athi River Basin, facing threats from urban sprawl, deforestation, pollution, and unsustainable land-use practices. This legal designation outlines conservation strategies such as catchment mapping, monitoring tools, reforestation, and alternative livelihoods. It bans high-impact activities including construction, cultivation, reclamation, and effluent discharge within the designated zone. The plan includes a budgeted intervention framework and establishes a catchment management committee with representation from county agencies, community groups, and development stakeholders. Enforcement protocols and indicators are developed to evaluate progress toward ecological restoration, hydrological stability, and community inclusion. This document illustrates Kenya?s efforts to strengthen legal mechanisms for preserving sensitive aquatic ecosystems and mitigating climate-driven degradation.