Workers harvest sand in Ewaso Nyiro River at Archers Post in Samburu County on November 9, 2024. The river which gets its water from Aberdare in Nyandarua is the main source of water for domestic use by locals downstream.
Despite being home to valuable natural resources, Nyandarua has not benefited from a clear resource-sharing formula with the national government, unlike other counties.
As a result, the county has been left to foot the bill for the conservation and protection of the resources, much like a mother preparing a cake to feed her neighbours but leaving none for her family.
Nyandarua is home to Aberdare Forest, Sasumwa Dam in Kinangop Constituency, Lake Olbolossat in Ol Joro Orok and Ol Kalou constituencies and River Malewa, which drains into Lake Naivasha from Aberdare Forest to Kipipiri.
Despite significant investment in the conservation of these resources, Nyandarua’s revenue generation remains stagnant at an average of Sh450 million annually.
The Auditor-General’s report covering the period between July 2023 and February 2024, shows counties benefiting from natural resources like game parks and reserves generate more than 50 per cent of their revenue from these resources.
In October 2023, President William Ruto announced that Taita-Taveta would receive 50 per cent of the revenue generated from its game parks, boosting its revenue collection to Sh400 million.
Other counties that have similar benefits are; Narok, where Sh3.6 billion of its Sh3.96 billion revenue comes from Maasai Mara Park fees, and Samburu, where Sh175.6 million of Sh232 million comes from its game parks and reserves.
Nyandarua Governor Kiarie Badilisha has expressed frustration over what he calls a “historical injustice and discrimination.” He said Nyandarua has made significant contributions to the conservation of Sasumwa Dam which supplies water to Nairobi, but local communities do not benefit.
“We have Sasumwa Dam which supplies water to Nairobi, but some residents don’t have clean water for domestic use yet they are the custodians of the dam,” Governor Badilisha said in an interview with Nation.Africa.
He said residents are involved in annual tree-planting efforts to conserve and protect the dam.
However, the governor is optimistic that if the national government grants Nyandarua full control of Lake Olbolossat — a 43 square kilometre lake — it could generate over Sh1 billion in revenue for the county annually.
“We have a strategic plan for the lake, but it cannot be fully implemented because the lake is still under the national government. This lake has the potential to create hundreds of jobs and earn the county up to Sh5 billion, progressively. We spend a fortune protecting and conserving it, but the law does not allow us to fully exploit its revenue potential,” the governor said.
Nyandarua County has also introduced the Lake Olbolossat Annual Marathon as a way to protect the lake and raise awareness about its importance.
Roads damaged
At the same time, Mr Badilisha took issue with licensed loggers who harvest trees from the Aberdare Forest and damage roads that are maintained by the county government. The roads are used by tourists visiting the Aberdare National Reserve, yet the county does not get financial benefits from these activities.
Njabini Ward Representative Kiiru Gachomba also voiced concern about the community not getting benefits from the dam.
"I have submitted a petition to the Senate, in addition to one by the county government. We had a sitting with Nyandarua Governor Kiarie Badilisha and Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja at the Senate under the Natural Resources Committee where I presented my case,” he said.
Despite Senate assurances, the issue remains unresolved. However, the MCA said Nairobi Water and Sanitation Company had agreed to build an ablution block at Kimathi Primary School which is near the dam.
Nyadarua Water, Natural Resources, and Climate Change CEC Wachira Mugo said wherever there is an outbreak at Aberdare Forest, the county responds swiftly.
“The Senate should fast-track the revenue sharing formula so that we can also benefit,” he said.
The last time there was a fire we fueled the choppers involved in fighting the fire, and our teams were at the forest for more than a week, with food supplies from the Nyandarua government,” Mr Mugo said.
While the county government takes its responsibility to protect the forest seriously, Mr Mugo stressed that Nyandarua needs to be compensated for its efforts.
“We also need some compensation like other counties. These resources do not benefit Nyandarua residents or the county. The Senate should fast-track the revenue sharing formula,” the CEC said.
