By Bob Aston
Increase in population
and economic activities have led to increase in demand for water resources
across the country. This has not only affected agricultural production but has
also contributed to water related conflicts.
In some areas covered by
Ewaso Ngiro North Catchment Area (ENNCA), excessive abstraction of river water
for both irrigation and domestic use in the upstream areas usually leaves very
little water for downstream users.
Water scarcity issues
have become critical along a number of tributaries resulting in water conflicts
within the catchment area. This continues to escalate as surface water which
these activities depend on gets scarce.
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| Importance of protecting our wetlands |
The area covered by ENNCA
is about 210,226 square kilometres, which is about 36 percent of the total area
of Kenya spread over ten counties. It covers the whole of Laikipia, Samburu,
Marsabit, Wajir, Isiolo and Mandera counties and also parts of Nyeri, Meru, Nyandarua
and Garissa counties.
It is the largest of all
the six sub catchments but with the least population as it falls in a semi-arid
landscape. It lies in Kenya’s dry corridor with well-defined double maxima of
rainfall in March-May (long rains) and October- December (short rains). Most of
the catchment is below 1,000 m above sea level.
Drainage is controlled by
four major independent systems namely: Ewaso Ng’iro North River, Ewaso Laggas,
Daua system and Chalbi system. It also has five sub regions namely: Upper Ewaso
Ng’iro, Middle Ewaso Ng’iro, North Ewaso Laggas, Ewaso-Daua and Engare-Narok
Melgis.
Water related issues
Mr. Timothy Mutie, ENNCA
Regional Technical Manager, noted that proper water resource management can
help in addressing the food security situation in Laikipia County. He said
salient issues facing the catchment include: extensive degradation in the past
as a result of deforestation, encroachment into water catchment areas,
cultivation in wetlands and overgrazing.
Pollution from
agro-industries, effluent discharge and solid waste from urban areas are also
issues which continue to affect water resources in the catchment.
Addressing water related issues
He said that they came up
with catchment management strategy (CMS) to regulate management of the water
resources and related land resources in the catchment. CMS also outlines how
the concept of integrated water resources management can be implemented at the
catchment level.
Some of the strategies
that ENNCA is currently pursuing to resolve water issues include: improving the
use of water resources management tools for effective water resources planning
and allocation; strengthening stakeholder collaboration to enhance water
storage; and adaptation to climate change impacts and to strengthen use of
water resources management tools and collaboration for effective catchment
protection and conservation.
The ENNCA management has
been collaborating with stakeholders like Laikipia Wildlife Forum (LWF),
National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), Water Resource Users
Association (WRUA), Kenya Forest Service (KFS) and the Ministry of Water,
Environment and Natural Resource in resolving water related issues in the sub
catchment.
ENNCA future plans
In order to meet
customers and regulatory requirements in water resources management, ENNCA
regional office management is planning to: enhance equitable allocation of
water resources through increasing the time the reserve flow is maintained at determined
points by two percent; and reducing water use conflicts by addressing reported complaints
within ten working days.
Source: Laikipia Mali Asili. You can download a copy of the
newsletter here
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