BUSIA, Kenya – The Nzoia River Basin in the Western Kenya region experiences significant challenges related to flooding, including habitat loss, soil erosion, and unpredictable flooding.
Y News understands that the Nzoia River Basin, is a critical watershed in the country which has suffered extensive degradation which has also been caused by deforestation and unsustainable human activities.
For centuries, flooding has devastated many communities living along the Nzoia River Basin.
But now, planting bamboo along the river banks is meant to change this narrative. Not only does bamboo keep soils intact along the riverbanks, but it can also be harvested for construction or as a source of energy.
Stung by this reality, the Institute, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST), in partnership with the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and with funding from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP IMP), has therefore started a rehabilitation project that focuses on using bamboo crops to restore degraded riparian land in recognition of the urgent need for intervention.
How the Nzoia River Basin is fast getting a facelift
Restoring degraded wetlands, lessening the effects of floods, encouraging sustainable farming, and enhancing residents’ access to food are all goals of this project.
As part of a larger initiative to stop erosion, preserve biodiversity, and encourage sustainable livelihoods in the area, more than 5,000 bamboo seedlings have already been planted along the riverbanks.
The team, working closely with local communities, has also successfully rehabilitated a community-based bamboo nursery, where 8,000 seedlings are now thriving, demonstrating how nature-based solutions can fight floods, restore wetlands, and build livelihoods.
A recent visit to the region by Y News established that the project recently extended bamboo coverage by half a kilometer, reinforcing riparian zones with native species and improving ecological connectivity along the river.
The initiative is aligned with the Institute’s Strategic Plan (2023-2027) and Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) goals on climate change vulnerability assessments for fragile ecosystems to inform mitigation and adaptation.
What we know about the River Nzoia in western Kenya
Stretching about 257 kilometres, River Nzoia is Kenya’s most extensive river system within the Lake Victoria Basin. It comprises 24 tributaries, mainly originating from the Cherangany Hills and Mount Elgon.
It traverses seven administrative counties of Uasin Gishu, Elgeyo Marakwet, Trans Nzoia, Bungoma, Kakamega, Busia, and Siaya into Lake Victoria at Bukoma Town.
Nzoia River Basin is a biodiversity hotspot in Kenya. 58.3% of the bird species in Kenya are found in this river basin while 45% of Kenya’s reptiles inhabit there.
Against this backdrop, it is now emerging that bamboo isn’t just beautiful—it’s powerful. With deep root systems and fast growth rates, bamboo helps stabilise riverbanks and slow down destructive runoff.
Why bamboo is an essential remedy to climate action
Y News knows that bamboo is a tree that can absorb carbon emissions more effectively than any other tree in the world, according to agricultural experts. As a result, planting bamboo will help communities reduce the consequences of climate change and manage soil erosion.
When this kind of tree species is produced at high quality levels, the nation can raise foreign exchange through exports and collect taxes. The production of bamboo has the potential to establish a new value chain and provide farmers and other value chain participants with jobs and revenue.
Bamboo grows exponentially quicker than most other plants, making it a resource that replenishes itself quickly. In the battle against climate change, it is also an essential component. This humble plant plays a major role in lowering greenhouse gas emissions by acting as a carbon dioxide super sponge.
Because of its many uses and sustainability, bamboo is the plant with the fastest rate of growth on Earth. Bamboo helps to enhance the quality of the air since it absorbs a lot of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the environment.
How bamboo helps lessen flooding along riverbanks
Y News further established that bamboo roots can retain soil when planted alongside rivers or other bodies of water, preventing it from being carried away during periods of intense rainfall or flooding.
Additionally, bamboo has a high capacity for water absorption, which makes it a useful tool for lowering runoff into adjacent waterways. This can lessen the chance of flooding downstream and stop soil erosion.
Bamboo can also be used to build dams or other natural barriers that impede water flow and let it seep into the nearby soil. By making more water available to surrounding plants and trees, this can enhance the well-being of regional ecosystems.
Rhizomes, which are underground stems that grow horizontally and can produce new roots and shoots, are present in certain tree species. Rhizomes help plants withstand harsh environments like fire or drought by storing their food and nutrients.
Up to 100 kilometres can be covered by its surface layer root system, which is 20 to 60 cm thick. Furthermore, bamboo grows again even if its stems are severed or killed by a storm or fire. This is because its rhizomes can live for more than a century.
