Kiboko farmers face KARI
over use of water resource  |
| Massive pump house belonging to KARI along Kiboko River. |
They allege that the heavy pumping done by KARI is the major cause of the dropping of water levels of River Kiboko which is their only water resource.
River Kiboko’s single source is the Kiboko springs that produce thousands of litres of water per day but is faced with extinction if proper measures are not taken to save it.
The group led by Wilson Mbithi toured the main source and demanded that the institution should withdraw all the pumps so that water can reach people downstream.
“KARI is pumping a lot of water directly from the main source to the farms. As you can see there are over 12 pumps installed at the source. In the past years river Kiboko would take water up to river Athi but now cannot make it even 2kilometers downstream.”Mbithi told journalists who also toured the area.
Mbithi said the institution should embrace technology and revert to drip irrigation to save water instead of using the sprinkler mode that uses a lot of water.
He added that KARI should also sink boreholes to curb the extraction of water from the main source of the river that serves the community in the area.
The residents are also calling upon the ministry of water and irrigation to withhold a Sh70 million project set to be initiated at Kiboko springs until their issues are heard and addressed.
“We are also not happy when we got news that ministry of water will initiate a Sh70 million project to pump water from the same source. This will cause the river to dry up and the population depending on the river will suffer and later become a burden to the government. What we want is our right to the resource to be respected.”Mbithi added
The residents are calling upon every stakeholder to come in and find a lasting solution that will enable save the source and at the same time ensure locals benefit from the water.
KARI officer Mtalii Simiyu who addressed the residents on behalf of the director who was not in office said the institution has resorted to change of irrigation programmes to control water use.
“After having meetings with stakeholders, KARI is carrying out irrigation of the farms at night so that water can reach other users downstream during the day. We have also placed resorvoirs to store water, we do not directly pump water to the farms.”Simiyu told the residents
Simiyu also accused some of the residents of illegally diverting water from river Kiboko into their farms.
He added that rise of population, change of climate and change from crop farming to agri business by residents are some of the major players leading to river Kiboko drying up.
Simiyu however welcomed dialogue between the institution, the community and other relevant government offices adding that he was not in the position to discuss government policies.
Simiyu also said KARI had played a major role in changing livehoods of locals through job creation but residents opposed saying that majority of workers are not locals.
He said the institution is mandated to undertake research on behalf of the government and to the benefit of all Kenyans but accused the locals of not embracing the technologies.
“We come up with variety of products that enable farmers get more yield and we always get people from other regions coming to learn about our products yet the community around does not show interest.” he said
A portion of residents and farmers held a peaceful protest outside the institution’s gate and later toured the affected areas.
Angry youth confronted the area River Water Users Association chairman Lazarus Musyimi demanding explanation about the proposed project at Kiboko springs.
Two kilometers downstream from the main source of river Kiboko, the river has fully dried up as no water reaches the area, leaving the residents in search for the precious commodity.
Farmers downstream count their losses as the water never reaches their farms forcing them to sink boreholes near the dried river.
Fields of maize and vegetables dry up due to water scarcity and scorching sun in the area.Benson Kyalo a farmer 2 kilometers from the source of the river said the situation is alarming and should addressed with caution.
“Over 15,000 farmers depend on this river downstream and now majority are faced with hunger because water no longer reaches the far from the source. Our water needs depends entirely on river Kiboko.” Kyalo said
He added:”We call upon the government to intervene and find a lasting solution because the next thing is that insecurity is likey to take shape within the busy Nairobi-Mombasa highway.”
The residents said they have involved their Member of Parliament Prof. Kaloki but feel like the legislator is not keen on addressing the pressing issue.
