By Moses Ndung’u
The Sipili Water Resources Users
Association (WRUA) on March 6, 2015 launched their Sub Catchment Management Plan
(SCMP). The event which took place at Sipili Assistant County Commissioner’s
(ACC) office compound in Laikipia West brought together various water stakeholders
in Ol-Moran Ward.
The launch was attended by besides
Sipili ACC and members of Sipili WRUA, Tree
Is Life Trust (TILT), Water Resource
Management Authority (WRMA), Laikipia
Wildlife Forum (LWF) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and
Fisheries.
The SCMP was developed by Sipili WRUA
in collaboration with WRMA, Arid Lands
Information Network (ALIN), Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and
Fisheries, United Trust and local national government officials (chiefs)
through support from TILT.
Speaking during the launch, Mrs.
Alice Nteere, Sipili ACC promised to work together with Sipili WRUA to protect
water resources in Sipili Sub Catchment. She said that she will help WRUA in
enforcement particularly when it comes to people cultivating in riparian areas.
Mr. Thomas Gichuru, Director TILT noted
that SMCP is an approach that enables the involvement of stakeholders in
planning and sustainable management of their water, land and related resources
for improved livelihoods.
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| Sipili WRUA members during the development of the SCMP |
He said that the SMCP will enable
Sipili WRUA to improve the status of the catchment and water resources within
their jurisdiction. He promised to support Sipili WRUA in the implementation of
the SCMP.
“We have been supporting WRUA’s to
not only come up with SCMP but also to implement them. We are keen on water
resources protection hence the reason why we are supporting such initiatives,”
said Mr. Gichuru.
Mrs. Rahab Nyururu from WRMA said
that water users will have to register with WRUA and get permits for water. This
she said will help regulate the usage of the limited water resource.
She said the SCMP will provide a way
in which water users can effectively share the limited water resources. She noted that excessive abstraction of river
water for both irrigation and domestic use in the upstream areas usually leave
very little water for downstream users hence resulting in water conflicts.
Mr. Joseph Maina, Sipili WRUA
chairman said that Sipili WRUA was founded on June 6, 2012 by the residents of
Sipili and its neighbouring locations under the water resources act of the
constitution 2012.
The association was intended to make
a more civilized platform for the utilization of water resources and safeguard
the local dams and reservoirs. This will in turn help to alleviate the
standards of living of the water users and prevent any conflicts that may
arise.
He said that they have been engaging
in activities that include basket making and growing of indigenous crops. He noted that the benefits of registering with
WRUA include tree planting in the sub-catchment areas and provision of
employment to the youth.
He noted that they have set up sub-committees
that deal in the different aspects of the community that include finance and
welfare.
Sipili WRUA will use the SCMP as a
basis for undertaking intervention and catchment protection in the region aimed
at protecting the natural resources and above all improving the lives of the
communities along the water catchment.
The SCMP will also promote the
already existing natural resources, enhance livelihoods and climate resilient
groups within the Sub Catchment. The SCMP will cover a period of five years.
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