ANB-BIA SUPPLEMENT

ISSUE/EDITION Nr 329 - 01/09/1997

Kenya

Towards a sustainable water supply

by Yvonne Sampoda, Kenya, April 1997

THEME = SOCIAL ACTION

INTRODUCTION

Frequently, women have to search for water,
miles from home, and then, even if they do manage to find a supply,
they have to tap it from the stream with a big banana leaf.
The whole operation can take up to two or three hours.
But, this may become a thing of the past if the
Rural Domestic Water Supply and Sanitation Programme achieves its goals

The Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Programme, aims to assisting local rural communities to get access to clean drinking water through community participation in the project. (A Kenyan government initiative in conjunction with the Dutch government). The project is in its third phase and is expected to run for the next five years.

The programme also aims at improving sanitary conditions, especially in communities that have benefited from protected springs and improved access to drinking water, by encouraging them to construct improved pit latrines. During this year's Water Day celebrations, District Water Engineer, Mr.Bernard Oloo, revealed that the programme was prepared to protect 150 water sources in the coming five years.

Is there enough water?

A water assessment study carried out by the Ministry of Land Reclamation, Regional and Water Development for the National Water Master Plan, estimates that the total water demand for Kenya will rise from 5.7 million cubic metres a day to 16.2 million cubic metres a day in the year 2010.

Some 12 million cubic metres of water will then be earmarked for irrigation purposes in the agriculture sector. Domestic water needs - about 3 million cubic metres. Livestock - 621,000 cubic metres. Industry - 494,000 cubic metres. Wildlife - about 21,000 cubic metres a day. The potential of ground and surface water resources in Kenya, is estimated at 20,209 million cubic metres, which is about 9.6% of the rainfall received in the perennial river basins or 5.6% of the 360,000 million cubic metres that Kenya receives annually. Thus, the total country's water requirement is only 28% of the total water available.

Environmental destruction

Despite the above encouraging statistics, the reality points to a continuing decrease in the supply of available fresh water. This was underlined by the Minister for Land Reclamation Regional and Water Development, Mr.Simeon Nyachae, during the Water Day celebrations.

He says that much of this is caused by interference with the vegetation in the water catchment areas. He maintains that wanton environmental destruction, erratic water patterns and farming within the water catchment areas, have led to an increase in the rapid flow of rainwater, without the benefit of adequate seepage into ground water reservoirs, to boost ground water storage.

Water schemes

In Nyamira, the Water Department has adopted gravitational water schemes to provide drinking water. This has been recognised as the ideal cost effective means, to benefit local communities. The trial water schemes of Nyakome and Nyamaiya are presently serving between 1200 and 2000 families respectively, at a cost determined by the communities. The Department is encouraging the gradual formation of Water Users Associations, whose main objective is to develop the capacity for operating, maintaining and managing water supplies, while at the same time encouraging non-governmental organisations, public institutions and the private sector to contribute to the growth of the water sector.

Mr.Oloo maintains that more people can still have access to clean drinking water without heavy financial investment. And this in spite of the amount of water that is lost. His department is determined to:

1) Strengthen revenue collection so that the money obtained can be ploughed back into water-improvement schemes.

2) Guard against illegal water connections.

3) Discourage the planting of the Blue Gum Tree (a water guzzler) near water sources. These measures will ensure the efficient running and a continued supply of water.

Mr.Oloo calls for sound environmental practices like the proper treatment and disposal of factory waste, and organic and contour farming for farmers in the region to check soil erosion and the silting up of water sources.

END

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PeaceLink 1997 - Reproduction authorised, with usual acknowledgement