Meru South District - UNDP-UNEP Poverty-Environment Initiative

gazette. For any irrigation purposes there must be ninety (90) days storage facility
constructed for the purpose of storing of flood flow which is used for the above stated
purposes. The water permit is then issued if all the conditions are met; it is issued for a
period of five (5) years subject to renewal in written request. This ensure that proper
monitoring is done to determine if there has not been any changes which have taken place
during that period of use. To ensure proper management of water resources the office of
water bailiff is facilitating the formation of water resources users association.
The main objectives of the WRUA are:-
i) Promote legal abstraction of water from the rivers.
ii) To promote efficient and proper use of the water abstracted from the river.
iii) To promote sustainable water use, water management and water development.
iv) To promote soil and water conservation practices within a given catchment
area.
v) To promote the conservation of water quality of the given river.
vi) To promote a situation in which the available river flow is reasonably shared
between the environment, wildlife, livestock and all the communities that rely
on that river in a manner that recognizes the following priority of water use.
a) Domestic
b) Environment, wildlife and fisheries
c) Manufacturing industry
d) Irrigation
e) Other use
vii) To promote a forum to discuss, prevent and resolve water use conflicts.
viii) To promote dialogue between the water users and the government in regard to
water policy and enforcement of the water act in respect to all activities
related to the use of the given river.
The formation of the water resources users Association has greatly helped the office in
management and conservation of water resources. With consultation with the WRUA the
office can recommend cancellation of any water permit in case of draught or any other
reasons agreed upon by the parties which compromise the relevant provisions of the
water Act 2002. Water resources are not adequate in our country but with effective and
efficient conservation and management activities the limited resources can at least be
equitably used by all users.
6.1.5 Main Water Uses
The main water uses in the district are:-
i) Domestic Water Use
Majority of the people are peasant farmers who rely on mixed subsistence farming for
their livelihood.
Domestic water use is therefore mainly for:-
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