On Saturday, a KIHO delegation returned from a four-day trip to different villages in Ruvu ward, located next to Pangani river basin. The area is in the lowlands in the extreme west of Same district and it is indeed very hot and dry there. Nonetheless, there is a lot of farming going on in the meantime thanks to water irrigation canals that has made the land very fertile. However, there is conflict and tension between cattle-keepers and farmers in the area. Both groups depend on water from the Pangani river (or the irrigation canals).
A water in-take at Pangani river. The livestock passes through the fields of farmers on the search for water and pastures. This can lead to the destruction of harvest from farmers and consequently even to violent behavior. It is mostly the Maasai that hold livestock and they perceive that they have lived in this area for generations while the others have arrived just a couple of years ago and now take away their land and cut off the access to water. However, the farmers are outraged when the Maasai lead their livestock into their fields, destroying their harvest. After all, this is destroying their income or main food supply. Such incidents cause high tension, and sometimes involve even the use of weapons.
KIHO visited the Ruvu area to look for ways to accept a possible project with the UN World Food Program to rehabilitate one water irrigation canal by cementing it. Currently, there are a lot of leakages, which makes the canal quite ineffective. What makes it even more difficult is that the main water intake is broken, and such a reparation might cost too much, at least with the budget that is available. Worst of all, the Maasai community is very much against the project and demand that they also benefit from an irrigation canal that will benefit their cattle. Together with village representatives, KIHO held two public meetings with 30 respectively some 100 people. As of now, we can’t claim that we have really progressed. More dialogue will be necessary to move forward.
KIHO visited the Ruvu area to look for ways to accept a possible project with the UN World Food Program to rehabilitate one water irrigation canal by cementing it. Currently, there are a lot of leakages, which makes the canal quite ineffective. What makes it even more difficult is that the main water intake is broken, and such a reparation might cost too much, at least with the budget that is available. Worst of all, the Maasai community is very much against the project and demand that they also benefit from an irrigation canal that will benefit their cattle. Together with village representatives, KIHO held two public meetings with 30 respectively some 100 people. As of now, we can’t claim that we have really progressed. More dialogue will be necessary to move forward.
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