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| Dear Members and Partners,
For anyone who cares about community engagement, ownership and accountability over natural resources conservation – then you need to pay attention to the WRUA Agency Model that is being pioneered with the assistance of the Forum. For years, our water catchments have suffered neglect and overuse – really poor, or no management at all.
The Water Act embraces a concept that is being pioneered here – incentive-based water conservation and management. It’s perhaps the last chance to save our river systems before they collapse. And like all good conservation, they are people based. No magic wand here. We must still work through the systems of community governance and management – people gathered in collective action. This requires good leadership and YOUR support.
Don’t give up. Get involved. Keep Informed and Stay Engaged. Renew your membership in the Forum today.
Thank you.
Peter Hetz
Executive Director |
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| WRUA AGENCY MODEL KICKS OFF |
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| Mr. Murithi, Chair of Ngusishi WRUA makes a presentation on the importance and relevance of the WRUA Agency Model to his WRUA compatriots and members of community water projects |
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| In June, the Mt. Kenya Ewaso Water Partnership conducted WRUA Agency Model awareness meetings in the upper Ewaso Nyiro Basin. The meetings are part of our efforts to bring together all water stakeholders in the region in support of the model.
Water scarcity in the dry season, catchment degradation, climate change impacts, and deforestation, have been great challenges facing the upper Ewaso Nyiro Basin in the past decade. As the sun rises and sets, we must address these issues head on and bring about immediate intervention.
The Agency, through the support of World Bank and CORDAID is working with MKEWP to address the water security issues.
Water Resource Users Associations (WRUA) are destined to serve as agents of Water Resources Authority. The Authority is required to delegate tasks to the WURA for catchment protection and pay for services rendered. This is part of the Water Act 2016.
Read More on the WRUA Agency Model Here |
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| RESILIENT AND READY FOR CHANGE
EMU-SACCO membership drive |
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| Water Resource Users Association Members read through the EMU- SACCO flier at a membership drive held in Timau |
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The Mount Kenya Ewaso Water Partnership and EMU-SACCO traversed over 300km from the plateaus of Laikipia North to the chilly mountain areas of Meru County, determined to complete the 16 meetings in a bid to sensitize the communities on the relevance and importance of on-farm water conservation and management.
“Watu wangu wacha tupendane kama mababu zetu”, said Mr. Murithi, Secretary EMU-SACCO. “My people let us love each other as our fore fathers did.’’
This was the theme for our membership drive that kicked off on June 3rd. The EMU-SACCO seeks to bring back the African spirit of community-based collective development and the concern for each other and the environment.
Read More on EMU-SACCO Membership Drive Here |
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| INTEGRATING WATER, SANITATION & HYGIENE (WASH) AND WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT |
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| An image of a sand dam in Kajiado County that the watershed team visited during the WASH/WRM integration field visit. The sand dam has helped the community with domestic water supply, as well as manage the water resource better. |
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| Kenya is classified as a ‘chronically water scarce’ country. Moreover, Kenya’s target of achieving 100% coverage of safe water supply by 2030 and 100% access to basic sanitation services by 2030 is unlikely to be met.
Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 makes the strongest case for the integration of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and Water Resources Management (WRM). It focuses on water with the overarching goal to “Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all”. With important targets that go beyond access to drinking water, sanitation and hygiene, water quality and wastewater treatment, water scarcity and water-use efficiency, are integrated into water resources management and water-related ecosystems.
The Watershed Program in Kenya (include website reference) focuses on strengthening the capacity of Civil Society Organisations (CSO) to advocate and lobby for the integration of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) & Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) to ensure equity and social inclusion, as well as sustainable usage of water resources.
To help in realize this program goal, the Watershed Work Package 2 (Kenya) held a meeting with its implementing partners and stakeholders from its areas of operation in Laikipia and Kajiado County as well as at National level, to highlight on areas of intervention on WASH/WRM integration.
Read More Watershed’s efforts to integrate WASH/WRM |
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| THE MUGIE RANGELANDS AND PASTORALISTS SHOW 2019
Its all about being good neighbours |
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Local cows from pastoralist neighbours compete on quality and best-of- breed
at the Mugie Exhibition |
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| Mugie Ranch held the second Annual Mugie Rangelands and Pastoralists show in June. The show focused on Kenyan livestock economies by promoting awareness of techniques and approaches in sustainable rangeland management, anti-microbial resistance awareness, animal husbandry and pastoral livelihoods in the Northern Rangelands.
This year’s show was very motivating. Held on 8th of June 2019, the event brought together about 500 participants including exhibitors, pastoralists, and organizations and entities operating in the Northern Rangelands.
Pastoralists brought their livestock to the show, where the Kenya Animal Genetic Resources Centre guided them on how to select the right breeds to keep in rangelands based on the quality of meat, the quantity of milk, and the adaptability of the animals to the rangeland conditions. Champion livestock were recognized and awarded prizes.
Read More on the Mugie Rangeland and Pastoralists Show Here |
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| WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY 2019
Dol Dol Residents urged to take full ownership on Environmental Protection |
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| Participants at the World Environment Day celebrations in held Dol Dol Town, engage in a clean-up exercise of the town |
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| “We are our own worst enemies; this must stop!”, the Assistant County Commissioner for Laikipia North, Mr. Eliud Waweru, lamented.
“For years we have continuously pressed the self-destruct button on matters regarding our environment to a point that we can no longer control the negative impacts”. Mr. Waweru went on, “If we do not take advantage of the 13 group ranches and use that platform to plant indigenous trees, stop the unregulated sand harvesting activities, and find a solution to the menace that is Opuntia, then we are left with nothing but bitter days ahead. Let us accept the reality that as a community we have played a major role in destroying our environment. We must all regroup, re – strategize and collectively work as one to turn the tables and restore our land as it was in the days of our forefathers.”
These were his remarks at the World Environmental Day held at the Dol Dol Stadium on the 5th of June 2019. Where over 300 residents, and about 50 visitors and officials attended.
Dol Dol town, the sub-county headquarters of Laikipia North, is currently faced with extensive environmental challenges ranging from deforestation, to soil erosion, waste disposal, to the high influx of the invasive species, the Opuntia Stricta. The cactus is proving to be a menace in the region.
Read More on World Environment Day Here |
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PARTNERSHIPS AND COHESION
LAICONAR partners for a new era in the Laikipia Forum
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| A community sensitization meeting near the Rumuruti Wetlands. The community is ready to leave the wetland with an assurance of the availability of water storage facilities for their livelihood activities. |
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| Laikipia County Natural Resource Network (LAICONAR) was formed in February 2012, as a result of a series of consultations on environment and natural resource issues affecting Laikipia and neighboring counties. The network has 50 organizational members, most addressing agriculture and forestry in the County.
Close scrutiny of these issues identified gaps concerning management, governance and advocacy on natural resources management in Laikipia County. The Network was born to advocate, promote, enhance, and encourage activities and reforms that enhance productive and profitable natural resource markets in sustainable landscapes.
LAICONAR is a membership driven, non-profit organization with its roots in landscape issues of agriculture, livelihoods and climate change. Building partnerships and cohesion in the landscape have been key objectives of the Network. Since 2019, we have agreed to partner with the Laikipia Forum
Our goal is to conserve water and share it better, and give it a value in the context of climate change. For us to succeed, we need to integrate our activities and programs with others. The Forum gives us this opportunity.
Read More on LAICONAR Here |
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