ROCKS AS AVENUE FOR WATER HARVESTING IN ARID AND SEMI ARID AREAS

 

Water is life since all aspects of life are dependent on water. Water availability is important to any development to take place. Different eco zones have different water availability arising from different climatic conditions. Water safety is determined by the methods of collecting and storage, some pollutants enter water while at collection points while others at storage levels. Water pollution and contamination pose healthy threats to consumers and thus its key to ensure that water purity and safety remains a priority for any water harvesting venture lest water can become a curse in disguise. To achieve water per capita, we should conserve our environment by not cutting down trees, by not cultivating along the river banks and by so doing we will be conserving our water sources.

 WATER HARVESTING USING THE ROCKS

There are different ways of harvesting water. The most common ways of harvesting water in Arid and Semi-arid areas are shallow wells, farm ponds, earth dams, boreholes, surface run off harvesting and roof catchments however rock catchment harvesting is an opportunity which has hardly been explored by different partners.  Many ASAL areas are generally hilly with large rocks creating extensive barriers to viable economic ventures. This makes the rocks to be termed more as curses rather than blessings. However, these rocks can become source of blue gold, source of life, source of water. To harvest water from the rocks, gutter like concrete thin wall is constructed to surround the rock then water is directed in a particular reserve which can be a water tank, water pond, earth dam or agricultural farm. Rain water running off a rock surface is gravitated to a reservoir by long lines of garlands made of rocks mortared on to the rock surface. Once the water has been harvested it is then subjected to different water treatments processes or used in the same state depending on the water use options available for the users. In Kitui south constituency the technology has been in practice and has provided water for domestic and agricultural use for years. They provide both drinking and other household uses for the community for months. Rock catchment have very little maintenance cost, maintenance of rock catchments includes cleaning the catchments and its reservoir before rainy seasons and to replace water taps.

CHALLENGES FACING ROCK CATCHMENTS

Though there is a risk of water evaporation especially in an open water reservoir the benefits are more thus making rock catchments more economically. There is still the risk of contaminations although not much as compared to the other rainwater collecting methods. This is because small rain showers falling on large rocks can provide huge volumes of run-off water which is collected. Water collected through the use of the rocks is less contaminated and if there is any contamination the suns UV rays will sterilize most contaminants. The problem of water evaporation may be curbed by roofing the catchments which makes it more hygienic and cleaner. 

CONCLUSION

Rocks not only provide a means of water harvesting but are also a source of other useful uses in our community. Rocks beatify our environment thus providing beautiful scenery which is a tourist attraction site which is another gain which can be tapped from the rocks. Rocks are used for commercial purposes i.e. rocks are grounded in to small pieces which are used for building purposes. People grind rocks and then sell them so as to earn a living. Rocks should be seen as blessing with variety of unexplored benefits and not curse and obstacle to investments.

 

BLUE ECONOMY; Golden opportunity for Kenyan Coastal Communities and National Domestic product (GDP)

 Sustainable Development goal 14, life below water, focuses on conservation and sustainable use of Oceans, Seas and Marine resources for sustainable development. Oceans cover over 70% of the surface of our planet and play key role in supporting life on earth. Being the most diverse and important ecosystem, they contribute to regional and global elemental cycling and climate regulation through absorbing heat and carbon dioxide (CO²) from the atmosphere.

Conservation and sustainable use of blue economy resource is central 2030 agenda for sustainable development, especially for developing countries. Marine resources are particularly important for coastal communities which make about 37% of world’s population. However, oceans and coastal areas are extremely vulnerable to Environmental degradation, climate change, pollution and overfishing making their conservation and sustainable resources utilization a priority for all actors

Kenya enjoys a marine coastline of 640KM giving a total area of terrestrial waters of 9700KM² which has high growth potential. President Uhuru Kenyatta speech while attending first African blue economy conference in 2018 noted that Kenya’s blue economy could contribute thrice its current share of its gross domestic product. Kenya’s blue economy has potential to contribute three times its present share of gross domestic products thereby creating jobs and bringing prosperity to millions of Kenyans. The sector currently supports estimated two million people directly and indirectly as fishers, traders, processors, input suppliers, merchants of fishing accessories and providers of related services. Despite its low publicity, blue economy plays an important role in job creation, income generation, nutrition and food security.

Kenya’s blue economy sector remains underutilized hence need for government and private sector investment to boost the sectors contribution in Gross Domestic Product. For strengthening of the sector, there is need for regulation, capacity management, infrastructural support and community participation in the co-management of oceanic resources. This would lead to better management of the sector and improved wellbeing of the coastal communities.

The sector is however bedevilled by massive pollution, overexploitation of water resources and their related bio diversities and high seas perennial security threats. Invasive species and oceanic acidification lead to biodiversity loss and compromise human health and food security. Weak legal, policy, regulatory and institutional framework and poorly planned and unregulated coastal development has exacerbated already existing challenges.

Destruction of mangrove forests has exposed both ocean and mainland to agents of environmental degradation. Soil erosion continues to cause pollution to the ocean and acidification of chemical farm inputs due to absence of mangrove barrier previously creating pollution buffer, this has had lethal repercussion to aquatic life. Fish breeding sites mainly mangrove and seagrass destruction has significantly reduced fish population resulting to overfishing to meet fish demands. Tides has become more frequent and severer to human settlements, infrastructure and local communities leading to massive destruction of livelihood sources.

The launch of $100 million Marine Fisheries and Socioeconomic Development project (KEMFSED), a collaboration between Kenya Government and World Bank has placed fisheries sector prominently on national focus. The project is supporting building of sustainable marine fisheries and diversify income streams for coastal communities within Jumuiya ya Pwani counties. The project is empowering the fisher forks and rural coastal communities to take ownership of their resources while creating complementary income to meet their needs.

Kenya’s vision 2030 development agenda identified blue economy as a priority sector thus placing attention and focus for National government, County governments and Non State Actors in exploration of Kenyan oceanic resources. This has created vibrancy albeit minimal by different economic and development actors along coastal communities. Through public participation, awareness creation and positive publicity of blue economy opportunities, communities are coming out to partner and work in harnessing and conserving marine resources to improve their living standards.    

ITS TIME TO ENTRENCH WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP AND DEVELOPMENT POSITIONS

For ages, women have been subjected to back seat when leadership and development issues are being discussed. African culture and traditions have disadvantaged women who have been left to perform demanding yet perceived insignificant chores at household levels. Traditionally women were embedded to cook, take care of children, collect firewood and remain submissive and indecisive to their know-all male counterparts. Similarly, men were believed to be God chosen leaders who were bestowed with sole mandate to make decision regarding property ownership, chiefdom and kingdom selection, property acquaintance and disposal and marital decisions such as number of children to be born, number of wives and wife inheritance matters

 

The perception has created man-made vulnerability to women and girls. Some chores continually subject women to otherwise dangerous yet mandatory environments, while collecting firewood, fetching water, attending livestock women have drowned, attacked by wild animals and militia groups causing emotional and bodily harm. Women have been subjected to lesser economic gainful enterprises in patriarchal societies who perceives women contributions as insignificant.

 

The trend seems to change in unprecedented rate as whole world. Women have taken influential and seat in cornerstone on many development and leadership positions. World Super power United States of America has woman vice president Her Excellence Kamala Harris. While Theresa May and Margaret Thatcher held Britain prime minister position in different times. For sixteen years, Angela Markel led Germany.

 

 Africa is not left behind as Ellen Sirleaf Johnson held the helm of Liberia, a leadership which has saw sanity and rule of law back to the country wounded by civil war. Catherine Samba Panza led Central Africa Republic between 2014 and 2016 while Rose Francine Rangombe led Gabon between June and October 2009. Samia Suluhu Hassan took over from Late H.E Dr Magufuli in Tanzania while Sahle Work Zedwe is the current president for Ethiopia.

 

In Kenya women have made remarkable strides from dark past to limelight both in private sector, public leadership and political position. The appointment of Nyiva Mwendwa to cabinet position in 1995 took male chauvinists by surprise but was the beginning of women presence in leadership positions which is now entrenched in the 2010 constitution. Performance of women in leadership position has proofed that they are equal participant with men.

 

In community development front, women have provided the most needed workforce either freely and below market rates. Family farming which feeds over 70% of world population according to World Rural Forum statistics 2013 is most dependent of women labor who toil to ensure their crops are planted in time, weeded and manure applied and taken care from pest and diseases and harvested. In most patriarchal African societies’ men make the decisions while women implement such decisions, a culture which continues to draw back gains made in gender equality. In pastoral communities, women are left to small livestock while men own large livestock, which bring incomes in terms of labor and sells when they are sold. Decisions to own some property and even income by women remain highly influenced by men and thus low homegrown development initiatives in rural communities

 

In recent past women have clustered themselves in self run and regulated micro finance initiatives which have offered much needed and deserving source of income in rural areas. These initiatives have seen women be able to afford household items such as cooking wear, school uniform for their children and school fees, access to better health and more regular and nutritious meals to their families. Through loans and financials savings from their groups’ (chamas’) women are able to start business and earn income and decent lives.

 

Women play important roles in all aspects of development, due to their closeness to nature, while proving for the families, women have very sound mindset in environmental conservation which has seen many women take lead in rehabilitation of degraded ecosystems.   For any community, be it in developed countries, developing, war torn regions, rural or urban to realize sustainable development, women need to be placed in their right positions as the current trend has proven that they can do what men have done and even in better. Previous closed opportunities for women need to be availed to them so that they can optimize their contribution in nation building.

 

Article by

 

Andrew Muendo Nyamu

Young Africa Leaders Initiative (YALI) fellow 2018

Project Coordinator, Coastal Livelihood and Environment Management

Plan International

Email: nyamu1895@gmail.com