International Journal of Innovative Research and Development

Abstract

The Republic of Kenya initiated key reforms in 1999 for its water sector governance, which culminated with the release of a water act in 2002. In compliance to the Water Act 2002 and to enhance their water security, local stakeholders in Ngaciuma-Kinyaritha came to create  the unique Water Resource Users' Association (WRUA) in that catchment in 2006 amid many Water Service Providers (WSPs) and Community Water Management Systems (CWMSs).  How would the Water Resource Management Authority (WRMA) integrate the existing CWMSs in the legal and institutional frameworks guiding the development, supply, utilization and conservation of local water resources by the new WRUA?  Should these CWMSs seek registration to qualify as WSPs? This study sought to assess the performance of all the above key institutions involved in the management of water resources and supply of water services in Ngaciuma-Kinyaritha Catchment of the Tana Basin of Mount Kenya Region. It basically aimed to isolate the contribution of CWMSs to domestic water security in the catchment among other Water Service Providers (WSPs) and managers (WRUAs).  Empirical tools of scientific research employed to achieve these objectives included a household survey of 165 farmers and 36 in-depth interviews. The analysis encompassed an appraisal of the performance of these water governance institutions based a Performance Assessment and Evaluation (PAE) approach. Findings revealed that CWMSs played and keep playing a key role in developing the existing water resources, thus increasing farming water profitability in the catchment. These CWMSs were achieving 30% of the targets of the water sector reforms in ensuring domestic water security in Ngaciuma-Kinyaritha Catchment among other WSPs and the WRUA. If their technological innovativeness on water supply and catchment management was enhanced, these institutions would perform better and make a greater contribution to the success of the water sector reforms therein. Hence, WRMA, WRUA and WSPs shall not neglect to integrate them in their legal and institutional frameworks for future collaboration.

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Abstract

New institutions emanating from the water sector reforms are expected to achieve efficiency and effectiveness in the management of water resources, thus leading to enhance water security in all the catchment areas. For inclusion and ownership of their management programmes on the ground, community members are required to actively get involved in the planning and management processes. How would the existing Community Water Management Systems (CWMSs) be integrated in the legal and institutional frameworks guiding the development, supply, utilization and conservation of water resources under the jurisdiction of a Water Resource Users’ Association (WRUA)? This study seeks to unveil some demographic, economic, social and cultural aspects that should have been taken into consideration by the Water Resources Management Authority (WRMA) when drafting a Sub-Catchment Management Plan for Ngaciuma-Kinyaritha WRUA, which came into existence in 2006.  The study mainly uses descriptive statistics and a Profit regression to derive significant parameters determining domestic water security in the Ngaciuma-Kinyaritha Catchment. Most of the results reveal that domestic water security in this catchment clearly relies on CWMSs through their catchment management practices and water supply by-laws and tools. There is thus a need for the new WRUA and WSPs to improve their collaboration with CWMSs in the future.

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