The Stream

Can Kenya quench its thirst paradox?

The country’s drought-stricken region is sitting on an ocean of fresh water.

Massive water reserves that can supply Kenya for the next 70 years have just been discovered in one of the country’s poorest drought-stricken regions: Turkana. What will this mean for the 17 million Kenyans who don’t have access to clean water? Does the government have the capacity to manage the water reserves responsibly? And how will the discovery affect Kenya’s border tensions with neighboring countries? 

In this episode, we speak to:

Casey Walther @CaseyWalther
Water exploration specialist 

John Nyaoro
‎Director of Water Resources, Ministry of Water and Irrigation
 
Ikal Angelei @Ikal_Angelei
Founder, Friends of Lake Turkana 
 
Ruth Nyambura @Msnyamburah
African Biodiversity Network 
 
What do you think? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.