Challenges and Opportunities of Participatory Management of Upland Wetland in Kiambu County, Kenya
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Date
2020
Authors
Kinyariro, Mwaura Samuel
Njuguna, Steven Gichuki
Macharia, Geoffrey
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
SIB
Abstract
Kinyariro MS, Njuguna SG, Macharia G. 2020. Challenges and opportunities of participatory management of Upland Wetland
in Kiambu county, Kenya. Bonorowo Wetlands 10: 78-91. Wetlands are continuously degraded through agricultural activities, pollution,
and settlements. For example, in the Lari sub-district, increased population pressure decreased soil fertility, unreliable rainfall, and the
search for food security forced farmers to encroach on the seemingly idle Upland Wetlands. Opportunities for wetland conservation lie
in participatory approaches applied locally to conserve this vital natural resource. The main water of the Ruiru river comes from the
Upland Wetlands harvested by the Nairobi Water and Waste Company in the Githunguri sub-district at the Ruiru dam. This research is
critical because the water company does not have in-depth information about its catchment area, which leads to encroachment and
ultimately rationing of water in the city of Nairobi. This study aims to document the causes of wetland degradation in the highlands,
assess the level of community participation, and determine the level of awareness of the importance of wetlands and the possible
contribution of farmer involvement in catchment management. The sampling method used to select the research unit was stratified and
random sampling where farmers and Ruiru dam workers were given a questionnaire. Purposive sampling was used to determine the
WARMA manager, WRUA officer, and six older people interviewed. 40 farmers from the Lari 107 settlement scheme where the
wetlands are located, and four workers of the Ruiru dam were given questionnaires. Data analysis was performed using the Chi-square
package computer, T-test, and SPSS. Percentages for qualitative data are presented using tables, bar charts, and pie charts. The wetland
mapping was carried out using GIS and Google Earth. The study results found that the total land cover of upland rice fields was 129.6
Ha after deducting 105.4. Ha for the last thirty years due to encroachment. The study revealed that 65% of respondents had lived in the
area for more than 20 years. Farmers drain wetlands primarily for food supply (50%) to generate income (25%), while 10% control
waterborne diseases. Participation rates are negligible, with only 2.5% of respondents participating in wetland conservation.
Community-based conservation groups like WRUA still lack in this area. Environmental impacts include loss of biodiversity,
destruction of ornithological habitat, and loss of hydro plant species. Social effects include outbreaks of waterborne diseases such as
typhoid, water pollution, and weak community conservation infrastructure. However, there is a chance for community involvement,
where the majority of the population is ready to carry out conservation (X2 = 0.127, p = 0.001). The formation of community-based
conservation groups such as the Water Resources Users Association, the Association of Riverland Owners, and the Watershed Advisory
Committee was proposed as the primary solution. Devolution of water resources is also proposed to ensure local people benefit from
selling water to city residents. Such efforts would provide an adequate water supply to Nairobi and the surrounding satellite cities
Description
Article
Keywords
Kiambu, Kenya, participatory management, Ruiru, Upland Wetland
Citation
KINYARIRO, M. S., NJUGUNA, S. G., & MACHARIA, G. (2020). Challenges and opportunities of participatory management of Upland Wetland in Kiambu County, Kenya. International Journal of Bonorowo Wetlands, 10(2).