Nakuru

Nakuru, one of Africa's fastest-growing cities, is taking bold steps to address critical water challenges through the Water as Leverage (WaL) initiative. Officially designated as a city in 2021, Nakuru faces pressing issues such as prolonged dry spells, intense flooding, rising water levels in Lake Nakuru, and rapid urbanization, particularly in flood-prone informal settlements.

The Water as Leverage Nakuru program seeks to enhance the sponge city model and employ Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) as design tools to develop urban projects that address water and climate challenges. The sponge city model is a comprehensive strategy aimed at ensuring water safety by capturing and retaining water during rainy seasons to provide security during dry periods. NBS tackle societal challenges by protecting, sustainably managing, and restoring natural and modified ecosystems, thereby benefiting both people and nature.