Water scarcity in Kenya is affecting the Kenyan population who relies on water resources, not only for drinking but also for agriculture and fishing. For example, wetland grasses are used to feed and keep livestock. Human populations throughout Kenya have been affected by a lack of clean drinking water due in large part to the overuse of land and increases in community settlements. A specific example of this is in the Mau Forest, in the highlands of Kenya, that is a major watershed for the country. In the Mau Complex, individuals have used land for their personal gain, creating homes and farms at the expense of the natural biodiversity. The destruction of trees throughout the forest has caused severe soil erosion, which pollutes the water. This phenomenon exists all over the country and with the addition of animal and human waste into already polluted water, it has made finding clean water generally more difficult for Kenyan citizens. The current water conditions have caused a number of issues including many diseases and tribal conflicts over the remaining water resources.
Additionally, as clean water becomes harder to find, women are forced to walk for many miles each day to find the water needed for the family. Another huge problem with clean water in Kenya has been an influx of individuals moving to large cities such as Nairobi, which creates large slum areas that have some of the worst living conditions and most polluted water in the country. This interaction between humans and water is currently at a crucial point in Kenya as the nation faces a major shortage in the ability for citizens to receive the water they so desperately need. Significant improvements in land management and environmental policies can help make sure that this country has the water it needs on its way to becoming a developed country.
Population growth Understanding Kenya's environmental situation requires looking not only at the environment but also at social, economic, and political factors that play an important factor in a still-developing country. With a quickly expanding population, sustaining the environment and sustaining the growing population is a challenge. The population continues to increase while the economy and resources struggle to keep up. Kenya's population faces high rates of poverty, up to 43% in 2000. In a population that relies heavily on agriculture as a way of life, it is difficult to limit agriculture and protect the environment without taking away a resource many people in this growing population need to survive. The quickly growing population puts pressure on water resources through agriculture, land and energy uses as well as other factors. The geographic location of water resources in Kenya is also a key factor. Water is not distributed equally throughout the country, leaving large places of drylands. About 80% of Kenya's water resources are completely unprotected but not undamaged by the growing population and agricultural practices.
Wildlife Kenya's water systems are recognised internationally for their importance to species diversity and bird migration. Water issues directly affect wildlife, since the availability of drinking water is a necessity for survival. Wildlife is also indirectly affected by the human population's use of water to support livestock and agriculture, which compete with wildlife for limited water resources. Kenya is known for its species diversity and richness; it is in the top 50 countries of species richness. It also has one of the highest percentages of threatened mammal species.
Impact of deforestation on water resources
Forests are important in protecting water catchment areas. When large areas of forest are logged, ecosystem services such as water supply may be negatively affected. Kenya has one of the most diverse forests in East Africa. but these forests are threatened because they are heavily used as a source of fuel or converted to agricultural land. Logging for fuel is one of the main reasons forests are threatened. Out of 22 million tons of wood products used in Kenya, 20 million are used for fuel. Large areas will continue to be deforested if current logging rates and population growth do not decrease. An additional problem when land is deforested for agriculture is that forests often grow on poor soils that are unsuitable for agriculture. Therefore, farmers continue deforesting new areas when soil nutrients become too scarce to support crop-farming. There is a great deal of activism surrounding water resources in Kenya. The communities that are affected by these water issues have many solutions to these problems. There are also many organisations that aid these communities. However, this has not solved the problem. There are simultaneously many forces that work against the solution to the water problem in Kenya. There are several organisations that work towards helping cope and solve the water problem in Kenya. Quest4Change, waterWater.org, WaterRelief are examples of such organisations. Through their work, they have provided clean water to many people who need it. Building wells is one thing that these organisations often do. Though the actual production of the well only takes a few days, the planning takes a few months. It is found that when communities request help building a well, these communities are more successful in maintaining their water supply than communities that are approached and just given a well. A water committee is elected to guide the well-building process. Many materials such as stones need to be hauled to the site. Geological surveys show if there is a good site. The hole is drilled and once water is hit, a pump is installed and a cement cap put in place. This allows people in Kenya to have a safe, accessible water source. These organisations also build small dams for communities. This allows communities to have water sources in times of droughts and gives them more reliable access to and consumption of clean water. Education is another important aspect of these organisations. They teach people the importance of having clean water and proper sanitation to prevent disease and increase health.
Mau Forest
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