On 30 September 2014, representatives from ICRAF and the Centre for Training and Integrated Research (CETRAD) held a one-day feedback meeting that convened 30 Merti-Wajir Water Pipeline Project stakeholders at the Transit Hotel in Isiolo, Kenya.
The aim of the forum was to give stakeholders an opportunity to provide feedback on the project’s social survey and analysis conducted in Merti Aquifer focal settlements. These settlements include Habaswein, Gotu, Merti, Basa, Modogash, and Wajir locations. Household surveys, key informant interviews, expert interviews and focus group discussions were used to compile data.
In addition, the forum served as an information sharing platform on the project. Sarah Ayeri Ogalleh a Senior Scientist at CETRAD presented the findings from the survey. Boniface Kiteme CETRAD Director and Alex Oduor (ICRAF) were also present to provide better understanding of the Merti aquifer hydrology in respect to supply and demand of the aquifer’s waters.
From the results presented, awareness of the project by local stakeholders was very low with 68 percent of those interviewed unaware of the project and its outcomes. Out of the 32 percent that was aware, 30 percent of this number had no understanding of what the project wanted to achieve. Drying of the aquifer was cited as one of the biggest fear for lack of support for the project by the stakeholders, particularly from Habaswein. Increased consultation and education was cited as a precondition under which those opposing the project would support it.
Results from the survey showed that the project should invest more in stakeholder engagement and awareness for increased community buy-in if it is to be a success.
Engagement of the local leadership was considered as one way of changing perceptions by stakeholders, particularly, the anti-project stakeholders – majority from Habaswein area. According to the workshop attendees, this would require in-depth negotiations for a minimum of about six months. A solid awareness campaign targeting stakeholders would be needed in the longer term.
Stakeholders expressed the need to have a team of impartial researchers who would clearly articulate and advise them on the project risks.
The Merti-Wajir Water Pipeline Project if implemented will boost the supply of fresh water to Wajir town and all other settlements that overlie the Merti Aquifer. The project, which is supported by the Kenyan government and funded by the Facility for Infrastructure Development (ORIO), plans to construct a 110-kilometre pipeline between Habaswein and Wajir towns.
This would boost the supply of fresh water to Wajir town which in recent years has experienced increased population numbers, exerting pressure on existing sources of clean drinking water. Since Habaswein has a better water supply in form of the Merti aquifer, the project plans on tapping into this source. Hydrological studies show that the aquifer can sustain water demand for both towns for 40 years without any visible reduction in water levels. However, the project is not without risks. The risk of water turning saline when drilling boreholes in Habaswein is possible hence the need for advanced hydrological surveys.
Through the Assessing Risk of Investment in Groundwater Resources in sub-Saharan Africa (ARIGA) project, a more holistic way of assessing risks around the development of groundwater points to more and better inclusion of stakeholders.
