The Lari Swamp Catchment Protection Area Order, 2023
Water Resources Authority
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Abstract: The Lari Swamp Catchment Protection Area Order, 2023 establishes legal safeguards for the Lari Swamp and its associated groundwater resources in Kiambu County under the Water Act, 2016. The swamp spans several administrative locations and feeds the Ruiru River, a key contributor to the Nairobi Aquifer Suite. The order outlines catchment characteristics, threats from land degradation and aquifer depletion, and prescribes banned activities including land reclamation, waste disposal, and cultivation within buffer zones. It features a conservation management plan covering groundwater protection, reforestation, and biodiversity restoration, backed by monitoring templates and financing estimates. Stakeholder collaboration is mandated through a multi-agency committee involving government bodies, local communities, and partners. The document demonstrates Kenya?s emphasis on strategic water resource protection as a pillar of climate adaptation and urban water security, linking environmental management with legal compliance and local empowerment.