RP-School of Humanities & Social Sciences

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Community Participation in Water Sector Governance in Kenya: A Performance Based Appraisal of Community Water Management Systems in Ngaciuma-Kinyaritha Catchment, Tana Basin, Mount Kenya Region
(GLOBEEDU Group, 2014) Mathenge, James Maina; Luwesi, Cush N.; Shisanya, C.A.; Mahiri, I.; Akombo, R. A.; Mutiso, M. N.
The Republic of Kenya initiated key reforms in 1999 for its water sector governance, which culminated with the release of a water act in 2002. In compliance to the Water Act 2002 and to enhance their water security, local stakeholders in Ngaciuma- Kinyaritha came to create the unique Water Resource Users' Association (WRUA) in that catchment in 2006 amid many Water Service Providers (WSPs) and Community Water Management Systems (CWMSs). How would the Water Resource Management Authority (WRMA) integrate the existing CWMSs in the legal and institutional frameworks guiding the development, supply, utilization and conservation of local water resources by the new WRUA? Should these CWMSs seek registration to qualify as WSPs? This study sought to assess the performance of all the above key institutions involved in the management of water resources and supply of water services in Ngaciuma-Kinyaritha Catchment of the Tana Basin of Mount Kenya Region. It basically aimed to isolate the contribution of CWMSs to domestic water security in the catchment among other Water Service Providers (WSPs) and managers (WRUAs). Empirical tools of scientific research employed to achieve these objectives included a household survey of 165 farmers and 36 in-depth interviews. The analysis encompassed an appraisal of the performance of these water governance institutions based a Performance Assessment and Evaluation (PAE) approach. Findings revealed that CWMSs played and keep playing a key role in developing the existing water resources, thus increasing farming water profitability in the catchment. These CWMSs were achieving 30% of the targets of the water sector reforms in ensuring domestic water security in Ngaciuma-Kinyaritha Catchment among other WSPs and the WRUA. If their technological innovativeness on water supply and catchment management was enhanced, these institutions would perform better and make a greater contribution to the success of the water sector reforms therein. Hence, WRMA, WRUA and WSPs shall not neglect to integrate them in their legal and institutional frameworks for future collaboration.
The Contribution of Community Water Management Systems to Enhanced Water Security under Changing Legal and Weather Conditions in Kenya
(Blue Apple Publications, 2014-04-30) Shisanya, C.A.; Mathenge, James Maina; Cush, Ngonzo Luwesi; Mahiri, I.; Akombo, R. A.; Mutiso, M. N.
Since the implementation of the water sector reforms in Kenya in 2006, Ngaciuma-Kinyaritha catchment of Mount Kenya Region has seen the emergence of a Water Resource Users' Association (WRUA) amid dozens of Water Service Providers (WSPs) and hundreds of Community Water Management Systems (CWMSs). These new legal institutions were mandated to enhance water security through good management of the catchment’s land and water resources and provision of adequate water services to all the stakeholders with their participation in water resources management. This study sought to assess the status of the water balance and security in Ngaciuma-Kinyaritha Catchment prior and after the establishment of a WRUA therein. This would thus elicit the contribution of CWMSs to water security in Ngaciuma- Kinyaritha under changing legal and climatic environments. For that purpose, the study used descriptive statistics, OLS regression and hydrological modelling to compute the streamflow, water demand and balance from 1990 to 2012, and predict the future water security from 2013 to 2035 under the NOR scenario (normal weather conditions), XLOSS scenario (flooding) and XSCAR scenario (drought) using BasinIT software, SPSS and MS Excel spreadsheets. Most of the results were pointing out to water shortages in Ngaciuma-Kinyaritha from 1993 and onward, generally without enforcement of an Ecological Base Flow (EBF) of 30% by the WRMA. There is therefore need for contingency plans to curb unexpected drought, which should be implemented by the WRUA with participation of existing CWMSs. However, further attribution studies are needed to explain the failure or success of the new legal institutions mandated to manage and supply water in Ngaciuma-Kinyaritha, namely WRMA, WRUA and WSPs
Green Water Credits for Sustainable Agriculture and Forestry in Arid and Semi - Arid Tropics of Kenya
(Blue Apple Publications, 2014-04-30) Shisanya, C.A.; Akombo, R. A.; Cush, Ngonzo Luwesi; Obando, Joy Apiyo
Farmers living in most Arid and Semi-Arid Tropics (ASATs) of Kenya face the great challenge of fetching water from alternative sources to curb the effect of drought on rain fed agriculture and forestry. They recourse to traditional Soil and Water Conservation (SWC) measures and other available technologies for saving blue water. Yet, these technologies Have become ineffective, owing to the intensity of water disasters arising from climate change and the unsound management of the catchment’s land and water resources. Hence, Green Water Credits (GWC) schemes have been propounded to be bio-physically needed, technologically possible, politically and socially acceptable, and economically feasible for ensuring adaptation to and mitigation of climate related water disasters. These schemes significantly rely on effective SWC measures, hydro-policies, agro-technologies and Payments for Environmental Services (PES) to mitigate the effects of drought on farming and forestry. This paper reveals the strengths and challenges facing these schemes in the ASATs of Kenya. Policy makers need to address these issues prior to implementing GWC schemes
Hydro-Geospatial Characteristics of Potential Irrigable Lands of Bugesera Region, Eastern Rwanda
(2014-08-31) Cush, Ngonzo Luwesi; Mikwa `, J. N.; Akombo, R. A.; Mukashema, A.; Nzeyimana, I.; Ruhakana, A.; Mutiso, M. N.; Muthike, J. M.; Mathenge, James Maina
Climate change constitutes a significant constraint to agricultural development and fruition through perturbation of rainfall. Areas located in the eastern part of Rwanda are more vulnerable than other regions of the country, owing to their topography, geology and climatology. Comprehensive hydro-geospatial information will unveil its potential irrigation capacity and further suitable irrigation solutions for the region. This study aimed at mapping the hydrological and geological characteristics and other geospatial features of irrigable lands of Bugesera region, in the Eastern Province of Rwanda, using remote sensing and geographic information system’s tools. The methodological approach consisted of processing Aster radar satellite image of 2006 and a topographic map of 1998 to enable designing a Digital Elevation Model (DEM) and producing different types of map layers using appropriate software packages ( ILWIS 3.3, Erdas 8.7 and ArcGIS 9.2). These maps were interpreted to describe and classify lands by slope, water proximity, percentage of clay and sand in the soil, and land use/ cover types. This will further assist to determine the most suitable areas for irrigation and derive the characteristics of potential irrigation methods for each land. This is auseful planning tool for optimizing agriculture development in the Eastern Region of Rwanda
Overlaying Spatial Parameters to Determine the Most Suitable Irrigation Strategies in Bugesera Region, Eastern Rwanda
(2014-08-31) Cush, Ngonzo Luwesi; Mikwa, J. N.; Akombo, R. A.; Mukashema, A.; Nzeyimana, I.; Ruhakana, A.; Mutiso, M. N.; Mathenge, James Maina; Muthike, J. M.
In the year 2002, USAID’s FEWSNET programme started warning about a looming food crisis in Bugesera region of the Eastern Province of Rwanda, which would be exacerbated by water scarcity. This study attempted to map potential irrigable lands of that agro ecological zone using spatial information to determine the most suitable areas that can be included in the national development agenda. The methodology consisted of overlaying different irrigation parameters derived from the processing of the Landsat Aster 2006 radar image and Digital Elevation Models (DEM) using appropriate software packages, namely ILWIS 3.3, ERDAS Imagine 8.7 and ArcGIS 9.2. These tools enabled us determine Land use and Land cover classification of the study area that fits to the soil characteristics, geology, topography and hydrology of Bugesera highlands. Maps resulting from this overlaying process display different types of layer classes according to each irrigation purpose. In most of the cases, only two classes of slope gradients, the soil texture, water proximity, and Land use/ cover type were found to be the most economic and suitable for irrigation purpose in Bugesera region, owing to their high water holding capacity. These were related to surface irrigation and all other possible types of irrigation, mainly sprinkler and drip irrigation. Overlaying these spatial models is an new way of thinking for irrigation development and agricultural water optimization in the Eastern Region of Rwanda in general and Bugesera region in particular.
A Performance Assessment and Evaluation of IWM Capacity Building Activities on Participatory Water Resource Management in Kenya
(JAAS Journal., 2014) Cush, Ngonzo Luwesi; Mutiso, M. N.; Akombo, R. A.; Wambua, P.; Förch, Nele; Badr, Esam
Kenya was at the brink of an environmental disaster as most of its watersheds were experiencing water stresses, which resulted in deadly conflicts on ownership of the little available resources. In the main cities of Machakos, Nairobi, and Mombasa water supply was unreliable and limited in coverage. The Government was therefore unable to supply water services while managing the resources at the same time. In 1999, the government initiated a reform, which culminated with The Water Act 2002. The new legislation attributed the supply of water services to water-businesses and reserved itself the right to manage the resource in consultation with the public. A Bottom-up approach was suggested for the management of water resources through the creation of “Water Resource Users’ Associations” (WRUAs). The latter needed to work closely with the “Water Resources Management Authority” (WRMA). But how was this new legislation to be implemented? Until 2005, no strategy was available. In pursuant of the Water Act 2002 and water sector reforms, the German International Cooperation (GIZ and DAAD) supported the National Water Resources Management Strategy 2007 (NWRMS) to enable the Water Resource Management Authority (WRMA) implement Integrated Watershed Management (IWM) approaches in Kenya. Universität Siegen (Germany) in partnership with Kenyatta University (Kenya) organized three DAAD Alumni Summer Schools in Meru, from 2006 to 2008, with the logistical and financial supports of the GIZ and DAAD. The latter were to strengthen local stakeholders’ capacity in addressing issues and challenges pertaining to water resources management. This study used both qualitative and quantitative analytical tools to describe and examine the learning process put in place by the German International Cooperation to instill a participatory watershed management practice in Kenya. It assesses key actors and their respective roles, outlines challenges met, and anticipates the actual impact of these Summer Schools on the ground. Results show that DAAD Alumni played a major role in training local stakeholders in designing, organizing, implementing, monitoring and evaluating participatory water resources management plans. Both locals and professionals, mainly constituted by WRUA and WRMA representatives, played a key role during case studies, the interpretation of the law and governmental policies, as well as providing local expertise during fieldwork. The learning process involved a holistic and interdisciplinary approach of problem assessment and resolution. Thus some participants may have been challenged to interact freely and easily with unacquainted ones while others were monopolizing the debate. Nevertheless, the final outcome was positive and greatly contributed to the development of a sustainable and integrated watershed management approach that is being implemented at the local level in most of the watersheds of Kenya. That is why the authors of this paper recommend the concept of the DAAD Alumni Summer School as an innovative tool for facilitating sustainable exchange of knowledge and skills to local stakeholders for their participation in integrated water resources management
Water Security Where Governmental Policies Conflict with Local Practices: The Roles of Community Water Management Systems in Ngaciuma-Kinyaritha, Kenya
(GLOBEEDU Group, 2014) Mathenge, James Maina; Luwesi, Cush N.; Shisanya, C.A.; Mahiri, I.; Akombo, R. A.; Mutiso, M. N.
New institutions emanating from the water sector reforms are expected to achieve efficiency and effectiveness in the management of water resources, thus leading to enhance water security in all the catchment areas. For inclusion and ownership of their management programmes on the ground, community members are required to actively get involved in the planning and management processes. How would the existing Community Water Management Systems (CWMSs) be integrated in the legal and institutional frameworks guiding the development, supply, utilization and conservation of water resources under the jurisdiction of a Water Resource Users’ Association (WRUA)? This study seeks to unveil some demographic, economic, social and cultural aspects that should have been taken into consideration by the Water Resources Management Authority (WRMA) when drafting a Sub-Catchment Management Plan for Ngaciuma-Kinyaritha WRUA, which came into existence in 2006. The study mainly uses descriptive statistics and a Profit regression to derive significant parameters determining domestic water security in the Ngaciuma-Kinyaritha Catchment. Most of the results reveal that domestic water security in this catchment clearly relies on CWMSs through their catchment management practices and water supply by-laws and tools. There is thus a need for the new WRUA and WSPs to improve their collaboration with CWMSs in the future.

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Browsing RP-School of Humanities & Social Sciences by Author "Akombo, R. A."

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