Water Research and Resource Centre

Preamble

This was a training Workshop for Water Resource Users’ Associations (WRUAs) in the Tsavo River sub-catchment and respective stakeholders. The workshop was organized by JKUAT, through its Water Research and Resource Center (WARREC), in collaboration with the Water Resources Management Authority (WRMA), Tsavo Sub-Regional Office. This activity was co-financed by the World Wide Fund – Education for Nature ((WWF-EFN) of USA. The workshop was held at the WRMA conference hall in Loitokitok town, Kajiado County, from 13^th – 17^th April 2014.

Main Objective of the Workshop

The main Objective was to build the capacity of WRUAs to undertake IWRM by bringing together WRUAs of the Tsavo Sub-Catchment with other stakeholders and experts for cross-fertilization of knowledge.

Specific Objectives

To build capacity of WRUAs and their stakeholders in the Tsavo catchment on Integrated Water Resource management (IWRM)
To identify major challenges impacting on the water resources, livelihoods and ecosystems of Tsavo Catchment
To deliberate on sustainable solutions to facilitate equitable water sharing, utilization and management including poverty reduction and catchment/ecosystem conservation
To create awareness on the technological, policy and institutional options to bring forth sustainable water resources management, utilization and conflict resolution.
To develop a community of practice to take forward/implement the actions agreed upon during this workshop.

WRUA workshop training sessions in Tsavo catchment, Loitokitok Town

Stakeholders Represented at the workshop

Water Resources Users Associations (WRUAs) in the Tsavo River Catchment
WRUAs from other Sub-Catchments in Kenya (Njoro, Migori, Isiolo, Kirinyaga, Upper Tana)
Group Ranches within the Tsavo Catchment
WRMA (HQ, Athi Catchment & from Tsavo SRO and Muranga)
Government Ministries (MEWNR, MoALF)
Kajiado County Government
Kenya Wildlife Service
Hotels and the tourism sector
Water Service providers
Water Service Boards
University Researchers/staff
Media
Farmers, pastoralists and other water users.

Some of the issues/Challenges in the Tsavo River Catchment

Water scarcity
Loss of biodiversity
Increased Human-wildlife conflicts
Over abstraction
Pollution
Siltation
Floods
Encroachment of wetlands and riparian areas ( e.g Case of Kimana swamp)
Overgrazing/overstocking
Non-compliance with provision of the water Act 2002 and WRMA Rules 2007
Trans-boundary water resource issues
Climate change impacts

Encroached Kimana wetland Increased turbidity in the Nolutresh River

Illegal Water abstraction – Kimana River (upstream)

Workshop actions/way forward

Identifying and mapping riparian land and wetlands within the Tsavo River catchment
Foster collaborations among all the water users within the Tsavo for the sustainable water management for the Tsavo River catchment.
Gazette all the wetlands within the Tsavo River catchment an activity that should involve all the stakeholders
Set timeframe on when to create awareness on Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) to the community within the Tsavo River catchment
KWS to create awareness to the community on compensation process incase of injuries
Embrace the issue of water harvesting in the Tsavo catchment
Initiate water abstraction survey for the Nolutresh River
Develop a water allocation plan for Rombo WRUA
Determine modalities for equitable water sharing, sustainable management and conflict resolution within the Tsavo River catchment