River Yala is one of the major Rivers in Kenya. Many families depend on the river mainly for Agriculture and fishing and is therefore a source of livelihood for a vast number of families. This study established the threats to the river’s survival, effects to the local communities, and possible solutions. The findings of the study showed that sand mining, pollution and deforestation were major threatening factors to the survival of River Yala. These factors require government intervention to save the river from extinction and alleviate problems such as occasional drowning of animals, disease outbreak, water shortage, and food shortage among others. The solutions include educating the residents on disease control, planting trees, contour farming and pollution control.
THREATS TO THE SURVIVAL OF RIVER YALA IN KENYA
Patience Omusula Okune, Lukenya University, Makueni County, Kenya
Abstract
River Yala is one of the major Rivers in Kenya. Many families depend on the river mainly for Agriculture and fishing and is therefore a source of livelihood for a vast number of families. This study established the threats to the river’s survival, effects to the local communities, and possible solutions. The findings of the study showed that sand mining, pollution and deforestation were major threatening factors to the survival of River Yala. These factors require government intervention to save the river from extinction and alleviate problems such as occasional drowning of animals, disease outbreak, water shortage, and food shortage among others. The solutions include educating the residents on disease control, planting trees, contour farming and pollution control
1.0 BACKGROUND
River Yala is one of the major rivers in Kenya. The origin of River Yala is the Nandi Escarpments in the Rift Valley province. The river stretches a distance of 219km and has an estimated area of 3351km2. The mouth of River Yala is Lake Victoria in Kisumu County, Kenya that receives an annual rainfall of 28m3/s (Odhiambo, 2014). The river is a source of livelihood for many families living nearby as they depend on it for agriculture. This section gives information regarding the drainage, administration, agriculture and vegetation cover along the Yala river in the middle and lower parts which were of interest in this paper.
1.1.1. Drainage
The Middle Yala block is located in Vihiga and Kakamega regions while lower Yala covers Siaya and part of Busia Counties. The block contains twenty-eight sub-locations as well as the Kaimosi forest. The landscape consists of mountainous highlands in the northern part of the block, with numerous small streams and clusters of wetlands. In the south-eastern part of the block, the Kaimosi forest is located where cultivation is done within in the forest reserve. Throughout the block there are remnant forests which are used for cultural ceremonies. The remnant forests are preserved and not accessible to the local communities for timber and firewood supply. The use of forests for agriculture took place in the 1930s (Government of Kenya, 2012). Today the majority of the farms are over utilized and few people are practicing the traditional rotation farming with periodic fallows.
1.1.2. Administrative part of the middle Yala Block.
The Yala River divides the block into the southern and northern parts. The southern part of the block is characterized by better farming practices and a greater presence of trees in the landscape. The major cash crop is tea. In this area all farms have hedges along the farm boundaries and few animals graze freely. The northern part of the block is characterized by poor farming practices with cultivation of steep slopes without proper management of the farms (Boye & zomer, 2008). Farming is the major land-use and drives land cover in the block.
1.1.3. Agriculture.
The main foods grown in the area are maize, beans, banana, and sweet potatoes. The southern part of the block has significant areas under tea, which is sold to the local factory in the area like the Mudete Tea factory. The Kaimosi forest, is the only forest left in the area. , the majority of the farmers plant Eucalyptus seedlings and there is therefore a need for diversification of the woody vegetation. This can be achieved through training and nursery establishment in the targeted micro-catchment (International Centre For Research in Agroforestry, 2008)
This paper delves into the threats to the survival of River Yala from a study done in 2018.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
River Yala is one among rivers in western Kenya. Other rivers include: Sondu, Nyando, Kuja Nyando, Nzoia and river kitare that have links with Lake Victoria (Explore 254.com, 2019)
Previous research on the river was carried out by others researchers, (Pala, 2012) mainly in Kisumu and Siaya regions. The focus of this research was on the lower Yala region, mainly, Kakamega County. The main purpose of the study was to establish the threats to the survival of River Yala, effects to the local communities, and provide possible solutions. This mitigation was required to eliminate possibilities of water and food shortage, occasions of drowning of animals and other related problems along River Yala.
1.3. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
1. To establish the main factors threatening the survival of River Yala;
2. To examine the effects of the threats on the River Yala;
3. To provide suggestions to mitigate threats to the local communities along River Yala.
1.4.SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY.
The paper is confined to the factors that pose a threat to the existence of River Yala and the effects of the threats to the river and surrounding communities. The limitation of the study was the region along River Yala within Kakamega County. Possible solutions to the factors threatening the survival of River Yala are also provided.
2.0 REVIEW OF LITERATURE
This section deals with the review of literature in relation to the river Yala which was of interest in this paper. The review of literature focuses on the previous researches by other people related to this study. In some previous research (Githui , Opere , & Bauwens, 2015), it was revealed that there re significant changes in rainfall discharge over this catchment area. The rainfall data analysis for the stations analyzed showed an average decreasing, trend. River discharge showed decreasing slopes on the upstream part of the and in increasing slope in the downstream part.
Another report by Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, (2004) aimed at reversing degradation and promote income generating activities for rural farmers in western Kenya and to contribute to improved rural water quality. The study also looked at the Yala swamp. The Yala swamp is Kenya’s largest freshwater wetland and covers about 175 km2 along the northern shores of Lake Victoria transversing into Uganda and parts of Tanzania. It is bordered to the North by the Nzoia River and to the South by the Yala River. Three main lakes exist near the Yala wetlands (Kanyaboli, Namboyo, Sare in Uganda), of which Lake Kanyaboli is the largest and most remote apart from Lake Victoria. Lake Kanyaboli is separated from Lake Victoria by massive papyrus swamps that presently inhibit faunal exchanges between the two lakes. (Biodiversuty and conservation, 2003)
Besides its cichlid fauna, the Yala swamp is home to a rich and complex community of animals including the endangered Sitatunga antelope (Tragecephalus spekei) as well as papyrus endemic birds (Louisele, 1996).
3.0 RESULTS OF THE STUDY
The results of the study are presented in the section that follows.
3.1 THREATS TO THE SURVIVAL OF RIVER YALA
3.1.1 Pollution and the Sources
Mining
Mining was found to be a major source of pollution. The traditional method of panning which is still under use is a menace. The miners leave spoilt equipment used such as pieces of clothes, broken sticks and containers on the river banks which are later carried by river water downsream. This leads to blockage in some parts of the river thus polluting and flooding of the river.
Overuse and Oil Spillage
Mining companies like the acacia, with advanced equipment use tankers to ferry water from the river to the mining sites. In such cases, there are instances of oil spills in the water, land (road) and on the river banks which end up being washed away into the river waters. This results in the rise in water temperature and low fish catch by the local fishermen.
3.1.2 Deforestation
The people in the local communities cut down trees along the river and its slopes for different uses. Some of the uses are building and construction, local brewing, creation of space for residence and agriculture. This has led to increased soil erosion at the river bank (See fig.1).
In Fig. 1 below, land has been cleared for agricultural purposes. Agricultural activities are the backbone of livelihoods in the region.
Abbildung in dieser Leseprobe nicht enthalten
Fig. 1: Land is Cleared for Agricultural Activities
3.1.3 Sand Extraction
Sand extraction is a major activity along River Yala bank. This is done for purposes of obtaining sand to be used in building. The River is the main source of sand in Kakamega County. As a result, there is depletion of sand at the river bank.
3.2 EFFECTS OF THE THREATS TO RIVER YALA
This section explains the effects of the threats mentioned above on the survival of River Yala.
3.2.1 Deforestation
As a result of deforestation, there is high loss of natural habitats including wetlands such as the Yala swamp. Yala Swamp was of great use to the country for the following reasons: It was a habitat for the Sitatunga antelopes; it was used by the local communities for brick making, mat making, grazing and a source of papyrus reeds; it was used by traditionalists and conservationalists for whom it represents a unique area.
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- Quote paper
- Patience Okune (Author), 2019, Threats to the survival of river Yala in Kenya, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/465661
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