A DWINDLE IN NATURE; A CALL TO ACTION- WATER IS LIFE

A DWINDLE IN NATURE; A CALL TO ACTION- WATER IS LIFE

by: Green Treasures Farms. 

A picture of rain droplets taken through a glass window.

 Also follow post at https://greentreasurersfarms.wordpress.com/2017/02/07/a-dwindle-in-nature-a-call-to-action-water-is-life/

The New Year was ushered in with a lot of enthusiasm in Kenya. In Nairobi, it was ululations and chants of thanksgiving all through. What many least expected was the unprecedented alert that water shortages were a thing to be expected in the city and its suburbs. Yes, according to the weatherman, the short rains in November-January period were not sufficient to reach the 84% that has been the level to sustain the city’s water needs.

As it stands now, the media announced that Ndakaini dam, the main reservoir that supplies water to Nairobi, is at or below a 48% level. North eastern (Isiolo),Tana river, Ktui and other counties are not spared on this. This is alarming, not just for the water sector, but also across other crosscutting sectors such as health and food. We stand the risk of disease outbreaks out of these water shortages, and we know this could be fatal even as our medics are on strikes.

The big question here is; are we really having competence in disaster preparedness programs? Are the citizens well aware of the pressing issues? What measures is the government taking in curbing these issues? Should we rather cut down trees in forests and harvest sand in our water bodies build more structures and skyscrapers at the expense of our nature? How can sustainable development principles drive all the processes and secure the future of the environment and humanity ultimately?

It’s a big hit on the back, to see people and livestock lose lives to hunger and starvation, which is mainly due to water scarcity or rather unavailability. Clearly, Kenya is part of the sub-Saharan Africa and droughts are expected every once in about 7years on the upper end. How then has this informed our responses to such scenarios?

Now, more than ever before, is the highest time that Kenyans understand that climate change is real, and that our combined efforts are vital to curbing its impacts. Look at the Mau complex for instance. I had my first tour to the forest this January and believe you me; things are over the frying pan into the fire itself. Forest degradation is a real-time occurrence and its effects are felt even by the inhabitants there. Most of the forest has gone away due to land grabbing and illegal settling. As an important water tower in the country, and a source of water to many rivers, including the Ewaso nyiro, the ecosystem is dwindling and slowly dying. We need to arrest these issues and really secure the survival of our future generations.

“ Njaanuary” as it is commonly known in Kenya, to mean a starvation month after the extravagance filled December holidays, has come with a double tragedy. No water and access to food is costly. People are now forced to buy water from street vendors, whose source and quality no one can assure.

Fellow Kenyans, fellow Africans. Let us learn to deal with the climate issues in our continent, and more to it, let everyone of us take a positive step to doing a thing to give nature the treat she deserves. If we do not neglect these efforts, then indeed we are neglecting the survival of our future generations. God did not place us in the only life supporting planet so that we destroy it. No, not. We ought to be true custodians of nature. Greed and Self-interests over natural resources should not guide and inform decision making and policies, rather, the people centered approach to serve all. #let the current water scarcity be a warning to many. Nature reciprocates the vices done to her in very high magnitudes.