Kenya: in search of water
Oxfam Quebec works with GOK to develop Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for water resource planners in northern Kenya. Prolonged droughts have posed innumerable difficulties for the people in northern Kenya, especially those residing in the settlement areas. Following the seasons in search for healthy pasture and available water sources for their livestock, pastoralists sometimes travel hundreds of kilometers and across national borders to support their animal-based livelihood.
Much of Kenya is considered arid or semi-arid and subject to frequent droughts occurring every 3-4 years. With only 200-300mm of rain every year, pastoral communities of northern Kenya have learned over the centuries to cope in this dry environment and utilize the fragile land resources sparingly. However, due to more frequent droughts, refugee movements and border insecurity with Kenya's neighbors countries as well as increased population growth and settlements, the delicate balance between the pastoralists' way of life and nature has come under increased stress.
One of the most common responses to these problems has been to develop new water points to ensure that pastoral communities have adequate water supplies throughout the year for domestic and livestock consumption. Although well intentioned, these efforts have sometimes left a negative impact on the pastoralists and their environment. A common scenario is for settlements to rise around these permanent water sources where trees are cut for firewood and the pasture is overgrazed by the resident and visiting camels, cows, goats, sheep. A once healthy environment becomes a soil-depleted wasteland. The populations of these new settlements are often more vulnerable to drought periods than before, relying on relief food and assistance in these difficult times. Careful planning in these areas is thus necessary.
The last severe drought of 1999-2001 revealed that not only most water sources in the region went dry, but also that little was known about these existing water sources and their locations. Government of Kenya and NGO staff working in the field had to rely on often outdated and incomplete data to make decisions for developing new water sources. This made proper planning cumbersome at best.
With funding support from the European Commission Humanitarian Office (ECHO) and Intermon Oxfam, Oxfam-Quebec teamed up with local governments, District Water Offices, CORDAID, and Rural Focus Ltd. (a Kenyan engineering consultancy) to employ the latest Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology for tackling these planning challenges. The team has so far surveyed over 1,500 water points in Mandera, Wajir, and Marsabit. This year, local staff in each district as well as members of the District Steering Groups will be rigorously trained to update and utilize the database for district-level planning.
Gathering information on water yields, water quality, domestic and livestock water demand and supply, operational status, and management systems, the team developed a database for easy accessibility for district planners. Importantly, each water source was logged using a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver to link its geographical location to its corresponding database entry. Using a GIS software package called ArcGIS, Rural Focus developed useful maps along with an interactive database pinpointing water point locations, estimated water supply deficits, and proposed areas for water source development.
As the dry season progresses, earth pans and dams are exhausted with permanent wells and boreholes becoming the sole water sources for many kilometers When compared to the regions of good pastureland, the map reveals that there are few permanent water sources available. The result is that livestock populations overgraze around the permanent water supplies, causing undue stress on the surrounding environment. Possibilities of temporary water sources in these otherwise inaccessible pasture regions could thus be considered.
Water resource mapping therefore gives district planners an invaluable tool for thoroughly evaluating the most promising sites for developing water points and assessing existing ones. This becomes instrumental in managing the drought cycle in these northern regions. With more information available to them, district and national level decision makers will be able to plan more efficiently for prolonged dry periods and mitigate the impacts of drought to pastoral communities.
