Case Study presentation: Wetlands Conservation: River Sosiani Rehabilitation Project Ms. Sally Kibos, RCE North Rift 11th Global RCE Conference 7-9 December, 2018 Cebu, the Philippines

1. NORTH RIFT RCE , KENYA
WETLANDS CONSERVATION:
RIVER SOSIANI REHABILITATION PROJECT (SDG 15)
IN
UASIN GISHU COUNTY
KENYA
PRESENTED BY
SALLY KIBOS
COUNTY DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENT
NATIONAL ENVIRONMENT MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY
DURING THE 11TH
RCE CONFERENCE CEBU, PHILIPPINES
7TH
TO 8TH
DECEMBER, 2018

2. INTRODUCTION
River Sosiani is a sub-catchment of the larger River
Nzoia basin which drains into Lake Victoria, the
largest freshwater lake in Africa. River Sosiani has
two tributaries; Rivers Elegerine and Endoroto that
originate from Kaptagat forest. The catchment
consists of weathered uasin gishu Phonolites which
are basic rocks

3. INTRODUCTION CONT…
The land use patterns at the catchment of river
Sosiani are: forest and agricultural lands at the
upper and mainly urban in the middle,
Then the agricultural land before the confluence
to form River Nzoia. See below the catchment
display

4. HISTORICAL FEATURES OF THE ELDORET TOWN
River Sosiani constitute a main feature in the
landscape in the catchment.
This attracted people to settle next to the river
and over time this has transformed the natural
environment into a town. 1st
water supply on
sosiani river was developed in 1928.
Urbanization comes at a cost to rivers; for
instance they have been degraded to enable
development, carry waste, supply drinking
water and facilitates industry.

6. CREATION OF NEMA

7. RIVER SOSIANI CATCHMENT

9. • Water Quality degradation : the increased run-
off from impervious surfaces such as roads,
roofs, gardens and contamination from industry
discharges degrades water quality
• Loss of ability to support life : the interference
with the river course, riparian zones and
habitats
EFFECTS OF URBANIZATION

10. • Removal of riparian vegetation:
reduces organic input
Habitat complexity
Increases riparian temperature
Reduces river bank stability
• Change in water quantity:
Increased flow from surface run-off
Reduced infiltration
Increased frequency of floods
EFFECTS OF URBANIZATION CONT…….

11. REHABILITATION ACTIVITIES
The activities included the following:
 Public participation/environment awareness billboards
 Cleaning rivers through solid waste removal and
management of effluent discharges
 Removal of structures from the river and riparian zones,
demarcation of riparian zone
 Planting trees along the river
 Regular inspections and law enforcement
 Solid waste management
 Relocation/rehabilitation of a dump site

12. • Pollution monitoring and control through:
Mapping of point and non-point sources
Identifying major anthropogenic activities
Water sampling and analysis at various
stations
Identifying challenges in river rehabilitation
Spot fencing of tree seedlings in areas prone
to destruction
REHABILITATION ACTIVITIES CONT.……..

13. The NEMA utilized the laws below towards
rehabilitation of the Sosiani river:
• Constitution of Kenya 2010
• EMCA CAP 387 Laws of Kenya
• Waste Management Regulations, 2006
• Water Quality Regulations, 2006
• Wetlands, Riverbanks, Lakeshores and Sea
shore Management regulations, 2009
• Water Act
LAW ENFORCEMENT

14. • Over 3,000 youth benefited from employment
• Riparian zone was demarcated to 30 meters along 20
kilometers
• Mapped point and non-point sources of pollution
• Pollution levels from solid and liquid waste reduced
substantially
• An old dump site was rehabilitated and planted with
trees
• Over 300,000 seedlings were planted with over 90%
survival rate
OUTCOMES OF THE REHABILITATION PROJECT

15. so are the laws a solution to our environmental
problems?
…………………………………………………………………………..
• We need to partner, we need to work together
to safeguard our environment
• We need to promote a change of mind of our
citizens to start conserving the environment
• We need to adopt technologies that protect
and promote environmental conservation

16. CONCLUSION
We SHOULD fall in LOVE again with our environment like our
forefathers were..
We MUST think about our CHILDREN and what gift we shall
pass to them
We must then protect the environment for sustainable
development through…
...partnership in educating, training, capacity building
communities to embrace environmental conservation WHILE
ACCEPTING ALTERNATIVE LIVELIHOODS

17. • Stakeholders networking
• Stakeholders public education and awareness
meetings
• Creating alternative livelihoods
• County Government of Uasin Gishu is in the
process of developing a nature park along 4
kilometers of the rehabilitated site of the river
• Private developers Downstream near Koromosho
water fall are putting up tourist facilities
• Private land owners fronting the river are
appreciating the new look
WAY FORWARD

18. PICTORIAL...
…the GOOD and the BAD!

19. Sections of Sosiani River Rehabilitated

20. Nandi Park after rehabilitation

22. The Constitution of Kenya and the Environmental
Management and Coordination Act CAP 387, not only grants
every person in Kenya the right to a clean and healthy
environment, but also the duty to safeguard and enhance the
environment.

23. To Section 7 of the EMCA CAP 387 provided for the
establishment of NEMA “to exercise general supervision and
coordination over all matters relating to the environment
and to be the principal instrument of government in the
implementation of all policies relating to the environment”
as provided

24. Kongoi
Asante
THANK YOU.

25. Suggestions/ Comments/ Questions
REMEMBER:
Our Environment, Our Life, Our Responsibility
Mazingira yetu, uhai wetu, wajibu wetu.