Battle for Tsavo waters sees off some wildlife from the park

By Phares Mutembei

Kenya: The Tsavo West, Tsavo West and the Amboseli national parks, are in danger. If degradation of the Tsavo River is not checked, then the parks’ amazing scenery and diverse wildlife will go down the drain and with them, the lucrative tourism industry.

The Amboseli National Park in the Loitokitok area of the Rift Valley, the elephants glitter among other species animals roaming the savannah grassland. The Maasai live alongside these animals and the more than 600 species of birds in the park.

There is also a spectacular view of Mt Kilimanjaro.

A conflict between farmers, pastoralists, Kenya Wildlife Service and other users of the waters of the Tsavo River that courses through the Tsavo and Amboseli national parks in now threatening this beauty.

The fight over water is so intense that last week, a team of water and land management experts from the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenya Wildlife Service and the Water Resources Management Authority toured the catchment of the Tsavo River to assess the damage its degradation is causing to the wildlife.

For four days, the team met with the local community who depend on the river for their agriculture and livestock activities. During a meeting in Loitokitok town that was attended by all the water resource users, it was agreed that the Tsavo River, which is now massively degraded especially by farmers who use water pumps for irrigation and cause pollution, has to be restored by all if only to preserve the game parks it serves

The Tsavo River has been progressively drying up since 2000, leading to serious reduction of wildlife. At Nkiito and Mogoine sections along the river, farmers have diverted water into their farms for irrigation adversely affecting population of hippos, crocodiles, fish and terrapins.

Says Musau Kimeu, a manager at the Water Resources Management Authority, the government body responsible for regulating and protecting water resources: “There is a lot of water in the Tsavo catchment area but improper use has led to a loss of biodiversity. Encroachment and pollution of the Tsavo River has led to human-wildlife conflict.”

Land of beauty

Rose Malenya, the KWS assistant warden in Tsavo West National Park, says, “This is a land of beauty, the land of lava and springs. There are volcanic formations, and this is the home of the black rhino, water birds and so many other beautiful animals. The Tsavo River is vital for survival of wildlife. It’s the principal water source and only perennial river in the Tsavo catchment area. Thousands of animals depend on the river so it must be saved at all costs.”

Buffaloes are water-dependent while one elephant consumes 200 litres of water per day.

The Kimana wetland that is crucial to survival of the national parks has lost its catchment functions that has negatively affected wildlife migration between the Tsavo national parks and Amboseli National Park.

But farmers will not budge.

“It’s the only wetland here but we have the title deed and will not move out, unless we are given alternative land for agriculture,” avers Meitamei Kingese, a community leader.