In a bid to address persistent flooding and enhance climate resilience, Kenya has joined forces with China to launch a pioneering bamboo agroforestry project along the Nzoia River basin in Busia County. The initiative, funded by the Chinese Academy of Sciences through the Sino-Africa Joint Research Center and in partnership with the United Nations Environment Program’s International Ecosystem Management Partnership (UNEP-IEMP), aims to leverage bamboo cultivation as a nature-based solution for ecological restoration and flood control.
The project, titled "Ecosystem Restoration for Enhancing Livelihoods and Addressing Climate Change: China-Kenya Cooperation on Bamboo Technology Transfer," centres on the use of bamboo as a sustainable tool to stabilize riverbanks, mitigate flooding, and support climate adaptation strategies for communities in the flood-prone region. The Nzoia River, a major tributary of Lake Victoria, has long been impacted by seasonal flooding, affecting the livelihoods and ecosystems of surrounding areas.
At the project’s launch event on Thursday, experts outlined the critical role of bamboo in ecological restoration. Dan Opilio, Busia County’s Director of Climate Change, discussed the research component of the initiative, which will examine bamboo’s potential to prevent soil erosion and enhance biodiversity. “Our research focus is on assessing bamboo’s capacity to restore local ecosystems and act as a natural barrier against flood events,” Opilio stated. “The findings will inform sustainable flood management strategies for the region.”
The project builds on China’s extensive expertise in bamboo agroforestry, aiming to adapt these practices to Kenya’s unique environmental conditions. UNEP-IEMP Program Manager Wang Guoqin emphasized the role of this project in climate adaptation and technology transfer. “This research will explore bamboo’s role in ecological stabilization while providing insights into technology transfer and local adaptability,” he noted. As part of the initiative, local farmers and scientists will receive hands-on training in bamboo nursery development and sustainable management techniques.
Judith Nyunja, a senior scientist at the Wildlife Research and Training Institute, highlighted the project's emphasis on scientific research to support Kenya’s environmental goals. "Research on bamboo’s effectiveness in stabilizing soils and absorbing floodwaters will help refine Kenya’s flood control and climate adaptation policies," Nyunja remarked. The project aligns with Kenya's national bamboo policy and contributes to the country's goal of planting 15 billion trees by 2032.
By combining ecological restoration with community-based adaptation strategies, this initiative marks a significant step toward sustainable land management and flood prevention in western Kenya. Insights gained from this project could pave the way for similar bamboo-based solutions in other flood-prone areas across Kenya and beyond, advancing climate resilience and ecological restoration in line with Kenya’s broader environmental objectives.
Article by Nyokabi Wanjiku
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