Njururi Program (Black Water Beetle)

Searching,Planning and Adapting to Provide a Climate Resilient and Sustainable Future for the Next Generations of All Living Beings in the Thika River Ecosystem

Future Design

Spring 2023, the THIKA RIVER BASIN FUTURE DESIGN BASECAMP – a three-day, large group planning and design gathering took place at the Del Monte clubhouse on the Thika River. Some 60 people, a diverse group of stakeholders and problem owners came together to set in motion a plan for the most desirable future 2033 of the Thika River Basin ecosystems.

This dataset provides critical insights into water quality and quantity, focusing on expected trends and metrics. It encompasses parameters such as pH levels, turbidity, contaminants, and flow rates, offering a comprehensive view to support water resource management, environmental monitoring, and sustainability efforts.

NINTH SCHEDULE (STANDARDS FOR IRRIGATION WATER IN KENYA)

TENTH SCHEDULE (QUALITY STANDARDS FOR RECREATIONAL WATERS IN KENYA)

SECOND SCHEDULE (WATER QUALITY MONITORING FOR SOURCES OF DOMESTIC WATER)

WATER QUALITY FOR LIVESTOCK AND POULTRY (Source: FAO, 1985b)

RIVER VOLUME / DISCHARGE (m³/s)

Please note that njururi@jkuat.ac.ke is the official communication email for all inquiries. Kindly direct your emails to this address for prompt and accurate responses.

Future Design Basecamp Thika River Basin Ecosystem

The Thika River in Kenya is struggling with immense industrial and agricultural pollution and erosion. In the past decades, the water quality has deteriorated at such a rate that the water beetle (‘njururi’), has that used to live in the river in great numbers, has disappeared entirely.

To find a solution for this crisis, a three days Future Design Basecamp was organised to discuss the Thika river, which involved a wide range of stakeholders within the Thika River basin to work together to ‘bring Njururi back to the river’.

Proposition

Thika River Basin Ecosystems Matrix Njururi Fund As Transactional Instrument

The Thika River Future Design Basecamp has provided all actors with a clear description of the best possible future we are willing to work for and realize. The question always rises, is the current way we now work adequate to meet those future ambitions. The conclusion of partici-pants was that we shall need to work together like we’ve never done before, like in unprece-dented collaboration!

This PROPOSITION speaks to this notion and shows through actual work in progress a relatively simple way to organize more effectively. ‘Work in progress’ entails several work sessions with the entire Thika River Future Design Basecamp taskforces. In addition, Embassy of the Earth conducted a 2-day Summer School to educate and steep practitioners in the principles and skills of social design. Lastly, in two working sessions, around 25 key stakehold-
ers, such as WRA, Nairobi Water, DelMonte, etc., met with the FDB taskforces to get better organized, across the board.*) participants see attachment

Organize to meet ambitions

Plan for the future

Based on common ground, the mission was born. Out of sheer necessity: Safeguarding not only the critical quantity, but also good quality of water! Life depends on it: water for the City of Nairobi, rural life, industry, agriculture, etc. The entire natural habitat – riparian areas, aquatic life, trees and vegetation, animals, source and higher altitude ecosystems, the forests are degraded and under threat.

General agreement

A new whole systems bio-regional approach was endorsed and agreed upon by all key actors concerning the Thika River Basin. One that should lead to unprecedented collabora-tion. Working together as never before!

Open Systems Thinking

The Environment provides opportunities and limitations. We learn from it and it (the environment) changes us. THIKA RIVER BASIN has history, identity, culture, talent and competencies People are ideal seeking. Actions we make plans + change the environment.

Blindspot of our times

Climate Challenges And Other Crises Around The Globe Are Taking Their Toll. It Is Not Always A Lack Of Will Or Even Resources To Meet These Challenges. When Asked, Why Nobody, Governments Included, Saw The Devastating World-wide Financial Crisis Of 2009 Coming, A Specially Appointed Council Of Statesmen Reported After Some Time: We Never Saw It Coming, Due To A Complete Lack Of Collective Imagination

Instead of constantly trying to adapt to change, why not change to be adaptive

Back to our Thika River Future Design Basecamp. Its vision and strategic intent have put five Task Forces on the ground each holding specific action-plans covering a critical piece of the puzzle to resolve the Thika River Basin Water crisis. Inter-disciplinary teams are working joint- ly, moving toward bringing ‘Njururi back to the river’. The teams are organized under 5 main topics: water quality & quantity, recreation, biodiversity, conservation, and policy. All rooted in the fundamental power and spirit of community.

The approach taught them as well to adapt their strategies and actions, as the environment and society pose new and different demands. Self-explanatory, these demands and confrontations require the attention, involvement and engagement from all relevant organizations and institutions. The answer is to not only fix the problems, but to simultaneously learn how to look at the long term and effectively navigate through complexity, uncertainty, pain and increasing turbulence. Building and having the capability to actively adapt to changing circumstances is now the name of the game. Not once, but again and again!

Thika River Basin Ecosystems Matrix Organization

To move forwards effectively on the whole systems bioregional approach and stay connected to their respective organizations, the 5 Taskforces – Coordinating Council included- suggested setting up a fund, the Njururi Fund. Then Taskforces can continue moving forward without losing valuable momentum.

Applying for funds separately to each of the standing organizations proves to be cumbersome and very time consuming. Standing organizations are not financially dismissed, they simply advance their reserved Thika River Basin budgets or donations to the Njururi Fund.

Then the notion was born to use the Njururi Fund as a transactional instrument and design a space, an organizational space that works for all. We call this space ‘Matrix’, where unprece-dented collaboration can be put to practice. A matrix is a flat organizational design used to better meet urgent demands head on. This Matrix is designed to fit the Thika River Basin objectives. The design principle is: Put responsibility for control and coordination at the level where the work is done.

We are not unique in this approach, many organizations like Nike, Netflix and IBM or the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture did it in their right time when facing complexity and high demand, while moving forwards through uncharted territory. Matrix structures foster flexibil-ity, speed, resilience and enhance collaboration between all units involved rather than search-ing for solutions top down; both within and between organizations.