Leading consumer health company Haleon Kenya today announced a three-year Basin Champion Partnership with the Upper Tana–Nairobi Water Fund Trust (UTNWFT), supporting efforts to secure Nairobi’s long-term water supply while improving livelihoods and ecosystem health in the Upper Tana watershed.
“Water is fundamental to health, communities, and sustainable growth. Through this partnership with the Upper Tana–Nairobi Water Fund Trust, Haleon is proud to support practical, nature-based solutions that help protect vital water resources while strengthening resilience for communities across the Upper Tana watershed,” said Himanshu Raj, General Manager at Haleon Sub-Saharan Africa.
The Upper Tana watershed supplies approximately 95% of Nairobi’s water and around 50% of Kenya’s hydropower, but it faces increasing pressure from land degradation, population growth, and climate variability. Unsustainable farming on steep slopes has contributed to soil erosion, sedimentation of rivers and reservoirs, higher water treatment costs, and reduced productivity for smallholder farmers.
Through this partnership – recognised today through the symbolic public signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between both organisations – Haleon is investing in nature-based solutions (NbS) that address these challenges at source, while supporting Haleon’s water neutrality goal for its Nairobi site. The project is designed to deliver measurable water replenishment, improve water quality, and support long-term water security within the Upper Tana watershed. Haleon’s purpose is to deliver better everyday health with humanity, and responsible stewardship of natural resources such as water is central to that commitment.
Key interventions will include agroforestry, soil conservation terraces, grass strips on farmland, riparian buffer restoration, farmer training, and extension support. Over the project period, the partnership will work with 7,660 smallholder farmers, restoring and improving management across 131 hectares of farmland and 1.5 km of riparian corridors.
Using Volumetric Water Benefit Accounting (VWBA) and the Curve Number hydrological method, the project is estimated to generate approximately 76,000 m³ per year of water replenishment attributable to Haleon by year three. This will contribute directly to Haleon’s commitment to replenish the water used at its Nairobi operations.
“Through this partnership with Haleon, we are advancing our shared commitment to water stewardship by working collaboratively, investing in practical solutions that are tied to robust measurement. Ultimately, it’s about investing in solutions that deliver lasting value for communities, businesses, and the environment,” Patrick Nyaga, Chief Executive Officer, Upper Tana-Nairobi Water Fund Trust.
Beyond volumetric water benefits, the project is expected to deliver wider shared value by reducing sediment loads and downstream treatment costs, enhancing farm productivity and incomes upstream, strengthening community stewardship, and restoring watershed ecosystems that are critical to long-term public health and economic resilience.
Overall, the Upper Tana–Nairobi Water Fund partnership exemplifies Haleon’s approach to collective action on water stewardship: using nature-based, community-led solutions to manage risk, protect health, and secure sustainable water resources for both people and nature.