Major crisis as rivers dry up due to biting drought

Thousands of people are staring at a disaster as rivers start drying up due to drought.

Several rivers, especially those flowing from Mt Kenya and the Aberdares, have already dried up, forcing residents to start migrating to other areas in search of water.

Among those affected are pastoralists who depend on Ewaso Nyiro river that is on the verge of drying up completely.

Also affected are rice farmers at the Mwea Irrigation Scheme as this season’s crop starts withering due to an acute shortage of water.

The rice farmers rely on rivers flowing from the Mt Kenya Forest to water their crop.

Ewaso Nyiro traverses Laikipia, Samburu and Isiolo counties. Thousands of people and their livestock depend on this river.

A spot check by The Standard indicated various tributaries which drain into Ewaso Nyiro are drying up. These rivers include Narumoru, Nanyuki, Sirimon, Ontulili and Timau rivers. They join Ewaso Nyiro, which drains into Lorian Swamps.

ANIMALS AFFECTED

Naomi Lekisat, a resident of Wamba in Samburu East said their lives are at a high risk due to the worsening drought situation.

Lekisat noted at Archers Post bridge of the Ewaso Nyiro along the Isiolo-Marsabit road, only a narrow stream is flowing.

“The situation is getting worse by day and it will increase conflicts which erupt at water points between different communities,” she said.

Lekisat noted the river traverses Samburu and Bufallo springs wildlife sanctuaries, where wild animals are largely affected.

“A biting drought has also hit the area and it is not sparing the wildlife either. Last week, I spotted an emaciated lion at the Samburu Game Reserve. The lion could not even hunt because it was very weak,” she said.

In Laikipia, Ngobit MCA William Gitonga and Mukogodo East Ward administrator David Tumpes said residents are forced to walk long distances in search of water.

“We are in a crisis since Mwituria, London and Segera dams have dried up completely and people are forced to walk for up to seven kilometres to Ngobit river,” said Gitonga.

He added that Segera borehole has also broken down and women are forced to spend nights at a nearby well where it takes about one hour to fill a 20-litre jericane.

“Pastoralists have migrated in search of water and pastures, while armed cattle rustlers have started attacking areas along the Laikipia-Isiolo boundary,” Tumpes said.

Last week, two Maasai morans who were entertaining guests at Il Ngw’esi Community Lodge in Mukogodo East Ward were shot dead by raiders who also stole a firearm from a Kenya Police Reservist.

The firearm was later recovered at a manyatta in Isiolo County, but the occupants fled.

At the same time, the shortage of water has affected various water projects in Nyeri and Laikipia counties, which draw water from the rivers.

Ms Mary Muthoni, a resident of Gakawa, said the projects are forced to provide various villages in shifts to ensure everyone gets the resource.

LOWEST LEVELS

“But still, the water is not enough for farming and we risk losing our crops if rains don’t fall any time soon,” said Muthoni.

At the Mwea Rice Scheme, rivers have recorded lowest levels ever, posing a threat to rice and livestock farming as well as human survival.

These rivers include Kathita in Meru, Maara, Ruguti, Nithi and Mutonga in Tharaka Nithi, Thuci which is on the Embu-Tharaka border, Rupingazi on the Embu-Kirinyaga boundary, Nyamindi, Thiba, Kiringa, Rwamuthambi, all in Kirinyaga and Sagana, on the Kirinyaga-Muranga border.

The rivers have recorded worrying levels due to the prevailing drought that has hit most parts of the country.

During the 1998 El Nino rains, the rivers swelled up, became violent and swept away a British soldier whose body has never been traced to date.

The soldier slid into the small Kamweti stream within the forest while training and was swept down to the gigantic Thiba River.

The little water left is being used for small-scale irrigation and domestic consumption, while some is spared to trickle down to the Mwea rice scheme where farmers are losing hope of realising any produce this season.

Area residents said unless it rains immediately, the remaining water will be exhausted within a few days, leaving them starving.

James Muchiri, who lives near Nyamindi river, said the levels have hit the lowest possible level and are posing a serious threat to aquatic animals.

“We used to catch fish on this river, but now you can hardly find a single trout,” Muchiri said.