Water resources policy and administrative management

Situated on the Kenya Tanzania boundary in Taita Taveta district, the 30 sq km Lake Jipe is dying. The lake has lost about 50 % of its water mass within the last 10 years, due to siltation caused by destruction of the water catchment are and farmlands, proliferation of the typha weed, and diversion of fresh water recharge from river Lumi. The lake has increasing salinity, decreasing depth and biodiversity. Hippos and crocodiles have migrated upstream due to salinity. The lake is of global importance and the only place in the world where the fish Oreochromis jipe is found, and which is on the verge of extinction. In a joint effort to salvage the situation, the UNDP GEFSGP and the Biodiversity Conservation Programme (BCP) of the European Union have committed US$416,000 (US$250,000 from the GEFSGP and US$166,000 from the BCP) for the rehabilitation of the lake. The two funds and other partners are working together thorough the local communities for: 1. Site wide baseline data collection and an EIA will preceed implementation of rehabilitation projects. 2. De-siltation and restoration of the original course of river Lumi. 3. Removal of illegal water abstraction canals. 4. Rehabilitation of an existing water project to provide drinking water to the community. 5. Introducing agro-forestry. 6. Fish farming - raising endemic and other fish species in ponds. 7. Capacity building for sustainable fishing including right size of nets. 8. Protection of Njoro Springs 9. Bringing the communities from both sides of the boundary to hold consultations to reduce conflict. This project part is undertaken to protect the lake from overfishing by introducing alternative fisheries like fish farming in 6 ponds near the lake. The activities are: to clear and desilt the Muguru canal for water provision, to clear 6 fish ponds, to repair inlets and outlets, to strengthen dykes, to purchase fertilizer and fingerlings, to conduct a market research and to develop marketing strategies, to purchase storage facilities (ice boxes) and to train the community on fish farming, finance and benefit sharing.

Kenya