NWRUA SERVICES

WATER USE EFFICIENCY

It is the endeavor of the Association to achieve maximum utilization efficiency to all its members. This has prompted the Association to look into ways of ensuring the use of as little water as possible among its users. The association also aims at increasing small holder food production using the most appropriate technologies that allow other household activities to run simultaneously eventually reducing poverty and increasing household income To achieve this aim the Association has contacted various donors to assist in facilitating drip farming technology in the household level. Already seven drip farming pilot projects are established and communities have overwhelmingly demanded the drip kit. The kits were donated by Lydia Rouse and Laikipia Wildlife Forum. The Association aims at providing a total of 830 drip kits of quarter acre to ensure each household in the Association have fully equipped quarter acre land under drip irrigation through out the year.

SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION

This is a critical section for the survival of the not only the riparian lands of the Ngusishi catchment areas, but the well being of all consumers of Ngusishi water and the their agricultural practices NWRUA has undertaken trainings in all the six projects on soil and conservation. This training was funded by the Water Services Trust Fund (WSTF). The Association envisages a community water project where all the natural resources are holistically managed for both posterity and the benefits of the future generations. The Association is introducing water conservation technologies at household levels. This idea has received its start from Laikipia Wildlife Forum (LWF) with a funding to do six water pans as a pilot project. Each of the six community projects will have a learning ground on ground water harvesting and storage, an idea borrowed from commercial farms where 90 day storage dams are a common phenomenon.

The Association also realises the importace of efficient water use,therefore with donation from WSTF NWRUAhas managed to purchase 20 number 6000ltr capacity plastc tanks to vulnerable families.Also with assistsnce from commercial farns many menbers have benefffited with used plstic linings for waterpans.

SPRINGS AND RIPARIAN LAND PROTECTION

The NWRUA Objective here is to promote appropriate and productive riparian land uses in collaboration with land owners. The aim is to ensure the land use activities do not encourage soil erosion, to plant the right tree species that provide long duration of shade to the river and identify specific livestock drinking points to avoid conflicts within the riparian lands. The situation currently is worse in some section of Ngusishi river and good in others. The Association has conducted riparian land uses training with assistance from WSTF and most members are aware of riparian lands. The Association has witnessed a protracted effort by land owners to thwart activities of water sharing sitting facts that springs emanate from their land. This is a contentious issue and it is the endeavor of the Association to see all spring areas are gazetted. This will enable conservation activities to protect spring eyes and enhance equitable resource sharing.

A NWRUA scout waters tree seedings planted along the Ngusishi river's riparian area courtesy of the association

It is the aim of the Association to manage the resource openly and cooperatively with land owners. If this is not possible then the government has to come in and declare all springs important catchment areas and facilitate protection of such areas for the common benefit for all The Association has continuously planted trees in the riparian areas every rain season. What remains now is the actual pegging and delineation to mark the extent of cultivation. Also members' sensitization on protection and conservation of the riparian sections is a crucial part of the success of the whole idea.

COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT

The Association aims at achieving support for all its resolutions across all projects. In the last years the Association has learnt that not all resolutions minuted at meetings end up getting full support and backing from within projects. We identified some of the reasons to emanate from the fact that some project leaders may be biased on project decisions or may have personal interests or may be just skeptical about the whole idea or project but did not want to oppose it at the committee meetings. During the implementation level then the entire projects get jeopardized because there is minimal or no members support.

For any Resource User Association to function, whether at a project level, Community level or Association level, it is necessary that all parties involved are committed to make the system work. This is only possible if they are involved in the planning, design, construction and operation of the system and if they are convinced that it is in their own interest.

The Association aims at achieving project leaders' support and cooperation in formation and implementation stages of the projects. We realize that by sensitizing our projects leaders we are raising the level of awareness about the importance of the projects being implemented.

In summary, NWRUA provides the following services to its' member projects.

  • Promoting controlled and legal water use activities.
  • Promoting good management practices to make efficient and sustainable use of the water resource.
  • Promoting water conservation practices to ensure sufficient water reserves that meet the demands of the environment, the wildlife, the livestock and all the communities who rely on the water resource.
  • Working towards reducing conflict in use of the water resource and participate in solving those that arise.
  • Promoting catchment conservation measures to improve water quantities and quality.

Most of the NRWUA projects members can now enjoy clean piped water for domestic consumption and irrigation farming courtesy of the services provided by NWRUA. Young kids who had to skip school and travel long distances in search of clean water can now comfortably attend school.

Picture showing a tank donated by to a physically challenged lady.

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