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Encroachers of Lamu’s water towers ordered to vacate

Houses belonging to locals encroaching on part of Shella sand dunes, which are Lamu's key water catchment areas.

Photo credit: File

What you need to know:

  • Water catchment areas act as magnets and land reservoirs, capturing and filtering rainwater that ultimately finds its way to streams, rivers, dams and underground aquifers.

Encroachers of water catchments in Lamu have been issued with notices to vacate immediately as the county vows to ensure all grabbed areas are fully recovered and protected.

Water catchment areas act as magnets and land reservoirs, capturing and filtering rainwater that ultimately finds its way to streams, rivers, dams and underground aquifers.

Lamu has several water catchment areas, key among them  Shella's sand dunes on Lamu Island, Lake Kenyatta in Mpeketoni, Belle bele, Lake Moa in Witu, Kiongwe sand dunes, and Chomo swamp in Hindi.

For many years, there has been massive encroachment on some of the water towers, particularly Shella dunes, Lake Kenyatta and Lake Moa, by both private developers and locals.

The situation has significantly impacted the region by causing a decline in freshwater availability, leading to issues like saltwater intrusion into groundwater, reduced water levels in wells like those in Shella and water scarcity, particularly during dry seasons. This has far-reaching consequences for ecosystems, human health, agriculture, and economic development.

 Lamu Water Executive Tashrifa Bakari said the county has intensified the war against land grabbers, who have specifically been targeting water catchment areas.

Ms Bakari noted that private developers have been undertaking construction projects and establishing settlements on or around water catchment areas while others are carrying out farming, sand harvesting and herding within the catchment zones.

She expressed concern that such activities have subsequently disrupted the natural water cycle and even contributed to the depletion of vegetation cover in those critical areas.

The official said serious action will be taken against the encroachers who will breach the vacation order.

Since early 2023, a campaign to recover grabbed public utilities, including water towers and fish landing sites, has been ongoing across Lamu County.

“The campaign has been successful. We’ve recovered many public utilities and brought them under our protection. There has, however, been challenges as encroachers have continued to establish settlements in the water catchment zones. We have issued notices to a number of those individuals in Shella, Mpeketoni and Witu,” said Ms Bakari.

She added: “We’re recovering and protecting these water catchment zones for the betterment of all of us and even the generations to come.”

However, Lamu Marine Forum Chairperson Mohamed Athman questioned why the devolved government has for years failed to come up with strict measures to protect and conserve water towers.

Mr Athman noted that the disruption of the catchments and riparian lands in various parts of the country has contributed to climate change.

“In places like Lamu Island, the encroachment of Shella Sand Dunes has led to reduced water availability. Water salinity has also increased. In other places like Nairobi, we have witnessed deadly floods. All this is because of the lack of proper mechanisms to curb the encroachment of water towers and riparian lands,” said Mr Athman.

He emphasised the need for Lamu County government and the Water Resources Management Authority to cooperate and develop comprehensive water management strategies that will include proper monitoring of groundwater levels, regulating water extraction, and full implementation of conservation measures.

In 2018, the National Lands Commission, then under Muhammad Swazuri's leadership, announced that it had successfully secured the gazettement of seven key water catchment areas that had been grabbed in Lamu County. They included Shella Sand Dunes, Kiongwe Sand Dunes, Belle bele Swamp, Chomo Swamp, Lake Kenyatta, Amu and Kibokoni ranches.