Kenya Coastal Management Initiative

Integrated Water Resource Management for Mombasa

In 2002-2003, the Coastal Resources Center partnered with the Coast Development Authority (CDA), the USAID/Kenya mission, and Development Alternatives Inc. (DAI) as part of the USAID Water Team’s Incentive Program. This collaborative effort sought to diversify the sources of potable water supply by promoting rainwater harvesting as an alternative to using contaminated ground and surface water. The project addressed the current problems associated with drinking contaminated groundwater, and the attendant public health concerns. Encouraging coastal communities to build water-harvesting tanks diversified the sources of potable water, reduced the pressure on existing water supplies, and reduced the rate of groundwater extraction.

Activities completed during implementation of the Water Activity include:

– Prepared the first draft of a White Paper on Water Quality in the Nyali-Bamburi-Shanzu (NBS) area (this will be used as a policy paper and also as input into the NBS Area Strategy)

– Prepared and signed agreements defining the roles and responsibilities of the masons and recipients of the rainwater harvesting systems.

– Procured two specialized (vibrating curved) cement block kits from Nairobi to outfit two teams for the construction phase of the Water Activity.

– Engaged in numerous discussions with the Coastal Development Authority (CDA) for the construction of (5) Ecological Sanitation Systems in the Coast Province as part of the Water Activity. After discussion of the options, the Kenya Integrated Coastal Management (KCMI) Water Activity decided on the EcoSan System as the best system to pilot.

– Wrote and broadly disseminated a KCMI Water Activity ‘Fact Sheet’ for broad dissemination as a descriptive piece about the project.

– Engaged in discussions with K-rep Bank Development Agency (KDA) in Nairobi to determine if the Water Activity was sufficiently compelling for KDA to develop a micro-credit financing mechanism to accompany the Water Activity. This micro-credit funding will assure the continuity of rainwater harvesting (RWH) construction with homeowners throughout the Coast Province after the Water Activity has concluded. The concept is to first train masons in the construction of RWH tanks. The masons would then continue selling their construction service as a private business while KDA provides credit to homeowners that will allow them to pay for RWH installations.

– Reviewed a proposal by Pact Kenya and the Kenya Marine Forum to work with Shimo Latewa Prison on their RWH and sanitation goals. Selected the prison as a RWH and sanitation site for the KCMI Water Activity.

– Prepared a KCMI Water Activity Timeline – incorporating essential project elements such as project management, training, contracting, procurement, monitoring and evaluation, etc.

– Prepared a KCMI Beneficiary Contract for all homes and institutions receiving RWH Systems under the Water Activity. This Contract stipulates the responsibilities of both KCMI and the beneficiary during the project. Beneficiaries are responsible for matching the construction costs either through the provision of materials, preparation of the site, or construction of the rain gutters and piping system to the tanks. Additionally, beneficiaries are responsible to educate others about their RWH system – offering sessions with their neighbors, members of their community-based organizations, and with their students (for schools) or patients (for health clinics).