Conflict over water and pasture on the rise

By Isaiah Lucheli

Massive destruction of forests and water catchment areas in the North Rift is threatening the survival of rivers.

Over six rivers flowing to the Kerio Valley are on the verge of drying up following massive destruction of the Embobut forest and encroachment on water towers in the forest.

The water volume in Embobut, Arror, Moiben, Kaben, Chugor and Embolot rivers has reduced with devastating effects on irrigation and livelihoods.

Turkana County Council chairman Eliud Kerio says destruction of forests has led to a decrease in the water levels in rivers flowing to Turkana and other semi-arid districts.

"Many pastoralists now migrate to neighbouring countries such as Uganda in search of pasture due to the worsening weather conditions mainly caused by environmental degradation," says Kerio.

The drying up of the rivers spells doom to families in semi-arid Baringo, Pokot and Turkana districts.

Cases of vicious clashes between the Pokots and Turkana pastoralists over pasture and water are rising.

Irrigation is the only way out of the region’s food problems, but reducing water levels could make this impossible.

Forced evictions

But Marakwet County Council Chairman William Chesigany claims locals are not to blame for the plunder of forests.

He claims it is former Government officials who logged and ran charcoal burning businesses in the forests.

However, the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) has already evicted over 10,000 people from Embobut forest.

According to the North Rift KFS head of conservancy Fred Ogombe the extent of the damage has not been established, but an ambitious plan to reclaim the forests has been launched.

"Before any evictions are conducted KFS verifies boundaries and also sensitises people on the importance of conserving the environment," Ogombe says.

He says before evictions in Embobut a committee vetted squatters who were considered for resettlement.

Those identified as ‘deserving indigenous squatters’ were settled on two open spaces in the forest. MPs Boaz Kaino (Marakwet West) and Linah Kilimo (Marakwet East) have supported the conservation efforts but protested evictions.

"At a leaders’ meeting in Kapsowar we agreed that the Government evict people who had settled in water catchment areas but the agreement was flouted and everybody was evicted," says Kilimo.

She says most people fled to hospitals because police and forest guards destroyed their property.