Factors influencing sustainable water resource management practices in Amalo and Mulot locations, Mara river basin Kenya

Abstract

Globally there has been a growing concem on the decrease in water quantity in surface waters during the prolonged dry spells leading to impact on household’s wellbeing and ecosystem. Mara River Basin (MRB) in Kenya is not an exception. It has been estimated to have an annual population growthrate of more than 3%. This compounded by associated effects of water abstractions, for livestock, irrigation agriculture and domestic purposes have been on the rise leading to decreased water quantity in Mara River, with major impacts on household socio- economic human wellbeing. The objectives of the study were to determine the influences of household’s characteristics and community institutions on sustainable water resources management practices in Amalo and Mulot locations. Purposive sampling was used in the selection of Amalo and Mulot locations as study sites. From these sites Amalo, Kiptaragon, Mulot and Olchoro-Oiruwa sub-locations were then selected for study because of their location along the river. The last stage used simple random sampling to list proportional number of households living along the river from each of the four sub-locations. A sample of 189 households was selected. Means, standard deviations, frequencies, percentages and cross tabulations were used for descriptive statistics, while multiple regression analysis was used for inferential statistics at 5% level of significance. Results from the study indicated that the household’s awareness of conservation activities significantly influenced on adoption of sustainable water resource management practices and that there was a significant influence of households’ membership in Water Resource Users’ Associations on adoption of sustainable water resource management practices (B=0.2l4, p<0.05). In conclusion, membership of household and community members in Water Resource User Associations is likely to promote adoption of sustainable water resource management practices. The study recommends the need for Kenya government to empower Water-Users Associations and organizations through awareness creation and capacity on sustainable water use and support them in implementing the sustainable water resource management practices so as to optimize local water resources management.