WATER: A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY.

On  14^th March 2017 I left my home village-Kiaritha and headed to Kangaita Village from where my second visit to various water projects would start. This is a journey that started a while ago. See this link:

http://kaberemartin.blogspot.co.ke/2017/03/save-river-rutui-in-kirinyaga-county.html

A look at the Kenya National Water Development report 2005, prepared for the 2^nd UN World Water Development Report  ‘Water: A shared Responsibility’ (2006), Kenya is classified as a water scarce country with only 647 cubic meters of renewable fresh water per capita. The same is characterized by high spatial and temporal variability and extremes of droughts and floods. Water resources contribute enormously to the economic productivity and social well being of human populace as both social and economic activities rely heavily on the quantity and quality of water.-Professor George O. Krhoda.

Dry section of River Mukengeria

In our context and as Professor George O. Krhoda noted, we have reached  to a point where availability of water is a limiting factor for development in Kirinyaga County. Whereas the prevailing weather conditions have played a role in the existing problem, I would want to look at Rivers whose source is  Mt Kenya Forest. Mt Kenya Forest as a water tower (199,558 Ha, 12.1%) is the second largest water tower after the Mau Complex (400,000 Ha,24.5%)- Kenya National Water Development report 2005,Pg 202. Mt Kenya Forest water catchment area must be properly managed so as to retain it’s capacity to supply good quality water all year round.

Effects of Human activity on this Catchment area.

A look at the human activities along Rivers Thiba, Mukengeria, and Kiringa paints a grim picture of what  our future will look like. The Fencing of Mt Kenya Forest may have been a great move but what happens inside the forest offers no much hope in the long run.

 

For a legal*/Illegal* fee, one can get into the forest to collect firewood but there is more than collecting this precious commodity. From my sources, i was informed that deep inside the forest, illegal logging, charcoal burning and poaching still goes on but to my surprise, my guide told me that the Kenya Forest Service officers are aware of such activities as this illicit trade adds some extra coins in their pockets.  The target species in this illicit trade are the hard wood trees that are used to make highly priced timber whereas others are used for wooden posts that are smuggled out of the forest at night at the cost of Ksh 120-150 but fetch Ksh 250 once successfully smuggled into the timber yards.  The Long term effect of cutting down these trees will be that the rivers will start drying right from the source. 

(The other sad thing that I heard is that some women who come to fetch firewood here are often sexually harassed (sex for firewood) and even raped but these cases are rarely reported. This is the same fate that befalls girls who are arrested inside the same forest especially when schools are closed) Let me leave it at that point as these allegations are unconfirmed.

Flow modifications.

The uncontrolled commissioning of water projects along the rivers has had a negative impact on the natural flow of the rivers downstream. Dams alter the flow, temperature and sediment in river systems. Reduced flow alters aquatic habitats – reducing or removing populations of fish, invertebrates and plants that depend on the flow to bring food. Reduced flow also decreases tributary stream flow, changing habitats and altering the water table in the stream aquifer. Consequently, riverside vegetation may be affected and decline in numbers. This may affect animal biodiversity, for example, bird species may leave the area if their habitat is lost or altered.- https://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/resources/440-human-impact-on-rivers

The above means that there are Water projects downstream that are solely drawing water from tributaries which mean that we have areas along the river  that are completely dry as a result of such projects-Case of Kiganjo project along River Rutui. This also means that other people who were to benefit from natural flow of rivers end up suffering from lack of water which is a possible source of conflict if the prevailing drought situation persists. One of the affected farmers shared with me his pains where he noted that that he is suffering yet the river flows right next to his shamba. Arrow roots that used to grow by the river banks are no more hence no food or source of revenue for people downstream and as a researcher notes:  Rivers are connected systems, and barriers such as dams, culverts and floodgates disconnect one area from another,notes siencelearn.org.nz

Along the river banks the blue gum tree has been planted in numbers despite an order by the authorities that such trees be cut down and the effect has been that the river beds that used to ooze water are no more doing so.

Existing studies show that the blue gum tree reduces water yield  and depletes soil moisture especially during dry weather compared to natural grass land that is fast disappearing along the rivers beds. As if this is not enough the already diminishing resource has been subjected to ever increasing water projects that are not sustainable all year round as we even came across abandoned projects. The remaining projects are running far below capacity as some of them are relying on water from small ‘wells’ along the river banks. Remains of logs that may have been ferried by water downstream are still visible which is a sure sign that water volumes usually get high and the current situation may not be a reflection of what these rivers are when the rainy season comes.

Another notable trend is that more land is being reclaimed for farming along the river banks and the long term effect will be disastrous. The clearing of forests to produce farmland has led to on-going erosion, with large quantities of sediment deposited into rivers. Agricultural intensification (substantial increases in fertiliser application and increased stock numbers) has resulted in nutrient and chemical loss to nearby streams and rivers. Elevated nutrient concentrations (especially nitrogen and phosphorus – key components of fertilisers) can result in the eutrophication of slow-moving waterways.- https://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/resources/440-human-impact-on-rivers

Our visit revealed that there are opportunities for tourism that are yet to be exploited especially inside the forest where these rivers offer scenic views,sport fishing opportunities, hiking and general adventure if we prudently use this resource.  

A look at the Kirinyaga County Government website reveals that there exists a Ministry of  Water,  Environment and Natural resources- http://www.kirinyaga.go.ke/environment.html but did not see any water resources management master plan in here.

 Human impact on rivers is large-scale process that leads to diverse negative consequences.
There are following ways of such impact: 

1) river flow redistribution in
time; 

2) river flow redistribution in space; 

3) river flow withdrawal; 

4) physical disturbance
of river-beds; 

5) pollution;

 6) water clogging;

 7) thermal pollution.- S M. Govorushko
Director of EIA Centre, Pacific Geographical Institute, 7 Radio St.,
Vladivostok, 690041, Russia; e-mail: sgovor@tig.dvo.ru

The Story of the Hummingbird, as told by celebrated Kenyan environmental activist, women’s rights advocate, and 2004 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Professor Wangari Maathai in this clip from Dirt! The Movie:- http://thekidshouldseethis.com/post/wangari-maathai-i-will-be-a-hummingbird

We are constantly being bombarded by problems that we face and sometimes we can get completely overwhelmed.
The story of the hummingbird is about this huge forest being consumed by a fire. All the animals in the forest come out and they are transfixed as they watch the forest burning and they feel very overwhelmed, very powerless, except this little hummingbird. It says, ‘I’m going to do something about the fire!’ So it flies to the nearest stream and takes a drop of water. It puts it on the fire, and goes up and down, up and down, up and down, as fast as it can.

In the meantime all the other animals, much bigger animals like the elephant with a big trunk that could bring much more water, they are standing there helpless. And they are saying to the hummingbird, ‘What do you think you can do? You are too little. This fire is too big. Your wings are too little and your beak is so small that you can only bring a small drop of water at a time.’
But as they continue to discourage it, it turns to them without wasting any time and it tells them, ‘I am doing the best I can.’

And that to me is what all of us should do. We should always be like a hummingbird. I may be insignificant, but I certainly don’t want to be like the animals watching the planet goes down the drain. I will be a hummingbird, I will do the best I can.