The Nyando River basin covers an area of 3517 square kilometers of Western Kenya and contains some of the most severe problems of agricultural stagnation environmental degradation and deepening poverty found anywhere in Kenya. The Nyando River drains into the Winam Gulf of Lake Victoria and is a major contributor of sediment and phosphorus to Lake Victoria.1 About 750000 persons reside within the Nyando basin most of whom live in Nyando District in Nyanza Province and Nandi and Kericho districts in Rift Valley Province. Many other people in Kisumu district are affected by periodic flooding of the Nyando River.
The World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF)2 the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MOARD) the Water Department of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (WD-MENR)3 and a number of other research and development organizations have been involved in research on land and water management in the Nyando basin since the late 1990s. The focal area approach of the National Agriculture and Livestock Extension Programme (NALEP) implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has fostered innovation and collective action for improved resource management in many communities across the basin.4 The recent Environmental Management and Coordination Act (1999) and Water Act (2002) provide strong institutional support to watershed management. The National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) has been established since mid-2002 Provincial and District environment committees have been established in all provinces and districts.
Publication year
2004
Authors
Mungai, D.N.; Swallow, B.M.; Mburu, J.; Onyango, L.; Njui, A.N.
Keywords
Environmental degradation, Environmental management, River basins, Crop management, Water management, Livestock management, Agroforestry, Degradation
