Nairobi — Kenya is facing a serious water crisis due to low supply of renewable fresh water.

The renewable fresh water supply was less than 650 metric cubes per year, making Kenya one of most water-scarce countries in the world, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Water and Irrigation, Mr Mahboub Maalim, said.

The PS, who opening a global water partnership Africa conference in Mombasa yesterday, said the country's annual rainfall was also erratic with droughts and floods occurring frequently.

"Demand for water is rising rapidly as natural storage capacity diminishes. Kenya also shares over half of her rivers, lakes and aquifers with her neighbours," said the PS.

It was in this regard, he said, that Kenya's priority lay in the protection and rehabilitation of forests in the so-called Five Water Towers of the Aberdares, Cherangani Hills, Mau Forest, Mount Kenya and Mount Elgon water catchment areas.

The towers have been degraded through forest destruction due to population explosion, he said.