Kenya National Water Development Report

UN-WATER/WWAP/2006/12 Case study: Kenya Kenya National Water Development Report Prepared for the 2nd UN World Water Development Report ‘Water: A shared responsibility’ (2006) UN-WATER/WWAP/2006/12 2005 UN-WATER/WWAP/2006/12 UN-WATER/WWAP/2006/12 UN-WATER/WWAP/2006/12 UN-WATER/WWAP/2006/12 UN-WATER/WWAP/2006/12 UN-WATER/WWAP/2006/12 UN-WATER/WWAP/2006/12 UN-WATER/WWAP/2006/12 Executive summary – Kenya Water Report 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY FOR WORLD WATER ASSESMENT PROGRAMME REPORT- KENYA 2005 Introduction Kenya was selected by the United Nations to participate in the World Water Assessment Water resources contribute enormously to Program (WWAP). In this regard, Kenya economic productivity and social well being therefore undertook a national project to of the human populace as both social and develop a monitoring, evaluation and economic activities rely heavily on the reporting system with support from United quantity and quality of water. With the Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural increasing growth in population and the Organization (UNESCO) and subsequently, subsequent socio-economic pursuits prepared a National Water Development (including urbanization, industrial production, Report (NWDR) for input to the World Water tourism and agricultural activities) demand Development Report (WWDR) II. The for water has increased rapidly. In some project is primarily for the development of a areas of the country a stage has reached water resources monitoring, evaluation and where availability of water is the limiting reporting framework and involves the factor for any development activities. In such following specific activities: - areas conflicts have risen amongst the various competing sectors and users of water. This is • Developing water sector goals and further compounded by the fact that prior to subsequent monitoring indicators for 2002 water resource management determining progress made in the responsibilities were fragmented amongst Millennium Development Goals several agencies, further resulting into a (MDG’s) and other goals as set out in multiplicity of institutions all claiming the national strategic plans. responsibility of management of the same • Creating, strengthening, maintaining, resource, a situation which was a major managing, modernizing information, impediment to integrated water resources data capture and processing at all management. Therefore, effective appropriate levels nationally. implementation and coordination mechanisms • Appointing agencies and focal points to were not clearly defined. monitor the indicators agreed upon. • Formulation of a reporting process for In order to implement the national water the provision and dissemination of policy, the then Ministry of Environment and information to the public on water Natural Resources begun by reviewing the issues thereby ensuring their support in Water Act (Cap 372) to spearhead the reform water resources management. process. A new legislation, the Water Act • The preparation of the NWDR, which 2002, was enacted and came into operation th is considered as a mechanism for on 18 March 2003. This has necessitated periodically reporting on progress major reforms that have set up new against set targets. institutions in the water sector. Professor George O. Krhoda, CBS Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Water and Irrigation 9th June 2005 UN-WATER/WWAP/2006/12 Executive summary – Kenya Water Report 2 The 1st National Water Master Plan (NWMP) 2002 provides mechanisms for financing by Tippets, Abbets, McCarthy and Stratton water resources protection and management. (TAMS, 1980) Consulting Engineers was an The Water Act 2002, therefore, enables the excellent study, which laid the foundation for Ministry to implement the National Water the subsequent water development project Policy and, amongst other attributes implemented in the 1980 to 1990 Decade. It establishes a new order in the sector. Table has provisions that would allow for the 1.1 below details the water demand for 1995 necessary reforms required for improved and an estimated water demand in the year water resources management in Kenya to be 2010. achieved. Most importantly, the Water Act Table 1.1: Estimated Water Demand Category Demand (1,000 m3/day) 1995 2010 Residential urban 747.8 1,642.8 Residential rural 468.2 932.6 Sub-Total 1,216.0 2,575.4 Non-residential, health facilities, schools, industry and 593.9 986.3 commerce Total 1,809.9 3,561.7 Livestock water 376.6 621.4 Irrigation 3.9M 8.1M Grand Total 2,186.6 4,183.2 Source: Ministry of Water and Irrigation Water Resources Management Problems and Challenges Box 1.1: WATER TARGETS •Water coverage 70% urban, 48% rural Kenya as a country is facing a number of •Commitment to meet MDGs’: serious challenges related to water resources •Kenya’s planning target on water is to provide management. A number of these challenges clean and potable water at source less than 1 km in high potential areas and less than 5 km in are as a result of factors both within and ASALs outside the water sector. Climate variability • By 2010 coverage to be 85% urban & 75% and increasing demand for water as a result of rural. development and population pressure are •Universal access to sanitary means of excreta. factors that the sector may not be able to control but can initiate mitigation measures to Source: Ministry of Water and Irrigation ensure sustainable water resource development. Box 1.1 illustrates Kenya’s Growing Population: The growing Water Targets as a measure of tackling these population increases the demand for water for challenges. domestic use, food security and industrial development. The population The problems and challenges facing the Growth trend has resulted in reduction of per country include: - capita water availability as illustrated in Figure 1.1 below. UN-WATER/WWAP/2006/12 Executive summary – Kenya Water Report 3 Water scarcity: Globally a country is • Increased water use conflicts due to categorized as ‘water stressed’ if its annual competition on the available water renewable freshwater supplies are between resources 1,000 and 1,700 cubic meters per capita per • Damaged roads, railway lines, annum and ‘water scarce’ if its renewable bridges, buildings and water intakes freshwater supplies are less than 1,000 cubic The impact of climatic variability and water meters per capita per annum. resources degradation has manifested itself in food shortages, power rationing and damage of our infrastructure as demonstrated in the Population Grouth diminishing available storage per capita 60,000,000 shown in Figure 1.2 below. 50,000,000 Per Capita Water Availability 2,000 40,000,000 1,800 1,600 30,000,000 1,400 20,000,000 1,200 per person) 1,000 3 10,000,000 800 600 0 Volume (m 1969 1979 1989 1999 2010 2020 400 200 Population 0 Figure 1.1: Population growth 1969 1979 1989 1999 Year Source: 1992 Water Master plan Projections, MW&I Figure 1.2: Availability of Water Per Capita Climate variability and Water Resources Source: Ministry of Water and Degradation Irrigation,Aftercare Stud(1998),Projeections. Drought is a recurring phenomenon and its In order to reverse this trend of water impact on water resources is usually resources depletion under erratic climatic devastating. Floods lead to disasters variations, there is need to put in place, particularly in low-lying areas. Occasionally • Effective management of water floods have caused devastating impact on the catchment areas sector. Both climate variability and • Construction of dams and pans to environmental degradation has resulted into:- increase our water storage capacities • Catchments degradation • To curb water pollution by ensuring • Drying up of Rivers adherence to all waste water • Receding of lake levels standards before disposal into our • Heavy siltation in dams and pans water bodies meant for both hydropower • Rational apportionment of our water generation and water supplies resources thereby avoiding water use • Deterioration of water quality conflicts UN-WATER/WWAP/2006/12 Executive summary – Kenya Water Report 4 Groundwater conservation areas are the areas surface water resources particularly in Lake where the groundwater aquifers are Victoria where water hyacinth affects fishing, threatened with over-exploitation and irrigation, drainage, and water supply and therefore no exploitation of such groundwater public health developments. Table 1.2 below shall be done without the authority of the shows identifiable impacts and examples Water Resources Management Authority arising from such species in Kenya. (WRMA) in accordance with the Water Act 2002 and the conditions thereafter appended Four main strategies are used in the control of to such an authority. invasive weeds: Chemical Biological Catchment Degradation: Catchment Mechanical degradation results in increased runoff, flash Cultural flooding, reduced infiltration, erosion and Plate 1.1 shows a mechanical cutter working siltation. Catchment degradation is a major on Water Hyacinth in Lake Victoria. problem, which is undermining the limited Plate 1.2 shows biological control of the sustainable water resources base in the water hyacinth using a biological mechanism country. The main causes of catchment with beetle species. degradation are poor farming methods, population pressure and deforestation. Invasive Species: The proliferation of invasive plants and animal species in the region including fish species and aquatic weeds is of growing concern. Weeds such as water hyacinth, fern and lettuce are degrading Table 1.2: Identifiable

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