Research Book Launch A research agency has launched a directory that aims to end water-related conflicts in 12 counties within the Ewaso Nyiro North Basin. The directory will be critical whenever stakeholders in the water sector negotiate the sharing of the resource which often causes animosity between farmers in the upper zones of the Ewaso Nyiro river sub-catchments and pastoralists downstream. According to the director of Centre for Training and Integrated Research in Asal Development during the launch in Nanyuki, the directory captures the graphical changes that are important for the waters users at the grassroots who have been given a big role in the management of the resource Dr Kiteme said it took five years to revise the directory which was initially developed in 2005 to make sure it captures the water situation in the basin in a more informative and understandable manner. Swiss development agency and government of Kenya funded the project to the tune of Sh10 million. Its development has become necessary due to the demographic and climatic changes that have taken place in the region in the past ten years. Climate change, Dr Kiteme said, has greatly affected the flow of River Ewaso Ngiro which is the main lifeline for the 12 counties in the north. Its flow at Archer’s Post has reduced from nine cubic metres per second in 1960s to 0.9 cubic metres per second today. Water use in the upper and mid zones has more than doubled over the decade due to population increase and the directory captures such dimensions that were not there in the earlier edition. Dr Kiteme said there was need for awareness among the stakeholders in the water sector and innovations to reduce the numerous conflicts. He noted that the research that will assist the water stakeholders and the government in understanding the measures to take in making sure that the catchment area remains without conflict emanating from water crisis. Ends
Posted on: Thu, 18 Dec 2014 09:30:20 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015