Report pushes for strong laws to protect water sources
By Mercy.Mwai, October 3, 2023
The declining forest cover and increase in crop land have negatively impacted water availability in the country, a new report shows.
The performance audit report on conservation of nine water towers in Kenya from the office of the Auditor General shows that water levels in the towers have reduced in volumes over the years because of destructive human activities.
The nine water towers comprise of three major towers and six minor towers which included Aberdare Ranges, Cherangani Hills and the Mau Forest Complex while the minor towers were; Chyulu Hills, Kirisia Hills, Loita Hills, Nyambene Hills, Mt Marsabit and Shimba Hills.
According to the report, the decline in water towers has negatively affected the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) six on universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all by 2030.
Demarcation
The report notes that the inadequacies in the implementation of water towers protection measures is due to the delays in the enactment of the legal framework for water towers, among other factors.
Reads the report: “Due to inadequate implementation of protection measures, water towers were exposed to destructive human activities, leading to degradation.”
The report tabled in the National Assembly last week also says that lack of mapping and demarcation of boundaries had exposed water towers to destructive human activities, especially encroachment.