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6/25/1950 - Water Problems of Kitul by Edwin S. Munger

INSTITUTE OF CURRENT FORLD AFFAIRS ESM Makerere College Wa Problems Kiui Kampala Uganda East Africa June Mr Walter S Rogers Institute Current World Affairs Fifth Avenue New York New York Dear Mr Rogers Africa Rarely generalization applicable three fourths continent water shortage widespread This letter examines defiolenoy Kitui District Kenya Colony Paramount among problems Kitui related those concerned water It prinoipal determinant Is yearly presence absenoe means prosperity potential starvation This diseussion water problems plans amelioration divided intos eneral desoriptlon District amount distribution water oonservation inoreasln amount water minimizing offsets drought eneral Desoripton Kitui Dtstrio neempasses squaremi1es fwhioh areNative Reserve elevation between coastal plain highlands Kenya Except native shambas aotin She thorn covers rollin countryside laeriIo soils gneiss sohlst hills risinfromanunevenplainhatslopesfrcwestoeast Therearenoper manentstraresinhe District iisdrainedinweperiodsbysandrivers largest which Tiva Thus usually cycles barely reaoh Tans River north A population inelud fewer Afrioans densely oonoentrated southwest around Kitnai Township where higher hillier wetter The District people Akamba eastern Bantu stock backward ribes Kenya indigenous tribes oolor advanced Africa The Akamba agricul turists large herds attle although tsetse restrios oattle razin Yatta Plateau around oonfluenoe Kithioluo Tana Rivers Wcen shamba planting hoein primitive stteks inreasinly plements Political organization advanced Uder British District Ccmissioner relies chiefs headmen selected candidates nainated people exercise local authority twenty Locations Kitui Istrlot which seaented further under headmen A Local Native Counoll composed seventeen elected ohlefs overment nominees representing entire striot author fields education public works taxaon conservation general decisions affecting Kitui It virtually essential success Istrio projects suppor Local Native Counoil Thus shown progressive attitude issues Amoun Distribution Rainfall No point IlSiO dO8roesfrhe equator never zenith The resuln radiaon produce8 intense oonveotion reaohing yearly passes direoly ESM Kitui District East Africa Indian Oc TANGANY KA ZANZIBAR Convection prime cause local rains behind noxes District follows yploal equatorial regime seasons Ororaphioal oonnectlon southeast north monsoons gives western District higher precipitation Rainfall varies average forty inohes eighteen inches northeastern The District stations ESM COMPARISON OF MONTHLY RAINFALL VARIATIONS II I0 Feb Mar Apt May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec KITUI TOWNSHIP Yearly Average NEW YORK CITY records raning forty years Ktui Township average length altogether short perod judge climatic cycles However reveal yearly fluctuations inches unusual The contrast between figures shown above Kitri those New York would sharpened comparison individual years It normal opposed average least month completely rainless Kitui Further fluctuations yearly totals violent Kitui where recorded Censervation Waer Waer fallin FUl suffieient crops pasture rather would supply effect ively quarter total yearly precipitation comes month storms round becomes saturated rapid runoff produces disastrous erosion large laden rivers sprinin matter hours renderir roads impassable wreakin particular havoc cultivat In months rivers dried forces destruction multiply Under these condi tions water burden blessing This problem attaoksd Government oarryir larer intermittent streams These generally large Justify expense concrete built Kenya Colony Dam Building Unit although concrete cores spillways larer More important should numerous expense construction would prohibitive The present program calls fifty earth built which thirty actually completed They apprqximaely fifteen hundred fiftyfeetlonwitha capacity quarter totwentymillionallons The physical underte people surroundin Govexssment furnishes enirerin plans wheel barrows picks On cnpletion Local Native Council contributes conwnunity which purchase equipment shambas otherwise At present chief required build during season While small world standards these tremendous under takings villaes concerned All people under chief headman Men swinging their pickaxes beatin sticks unison rhythm their sinin Wuen supplement other wheel barrows formin passin shallow baskets excavation The youner miles brinin calabashes water workers drink Water Bailiffs appointed Local Native council enineerin plans carried between inspection trips This includes makin spillway sufficiently below Wall catchment around fenced brush piles water contaminated cattle maintenance Some times constructlon necessary allow cattle puddle basin water period tramping their hoofs pound mixture their watertight Final supervision Istrict Commissioner visits Locations periodically check buildln progress upkeep Dams built principal places Some small constructed around sloping outcrops which serve collect water Others built The African version makln water rushir small spillway dona____s gulleys ESM The degree success certain achieve difficult assess Some water perennially while others months dependin dryness particular water withdrawn people Some others properly tained burst period heavy On whole however every successful extent reducing erosion providin larger volume water conveniently located Since there great sites where present smaller placed three hundred effective could built District Lookin donna smaller To thelsthe spillway Dry picture burst spillway proved narrow close outrushing stream which eroded Here rebuilt farther donna This collects _spillway_wid_ened small amount water Terracing second means water collect being encouraged retain water better ively saves hundreds miles crops reard erosion In walking roughly aores erraoed o_he_nearb _l_a__e MOS areas heavier rainfall where reatest Undersandin Akamba contour plowin rowln Unfortunately Kitui District rainfall sufficient suppor strips terracin elephant successful hilly areas precipitation elsewhere EaSt Africa In improvements educative process difficult Chiefs eneourased adopt proressiv methods example primary schools especially secorary school Kiui Township demon stration points older tralnin rounds people The secondary school already adjoining school planned Modern methods ariculure mixed farmln8 carried students themselves their practical tralnin Another facet conservation program control steep almost barren hillsides The hiher slopes hills oases suitable rowth forest forested The Akamba their battles Hamio eattle raidin Masai plains extent never completely driven ESM hills other tribes continued utilize valleys plainsforrazinandariculture Oneoomequenoeofthismaybetheexist residual forest ridges hiher hills Podo cedar black wattle trees rapidly these areas apparently little encouragement forest spread hillsides The Akamba however habit burnin grasslands every order believe destroy improve growth Large areas aside Kenya Colony Forests Local Native Council experimentin plantings If excellent forests these higher regions extended wider forests cover developed erosion checked water released gradually forests supplement ireasinly limited supply poles trees black wattle provide income None simple accomplish Involved acquisition traditional native owners secondly resettlement small roups people cultivating thirdly cutting breaks hirin guards about month A across hills thirty degree angle slopes blackened vegetation before heavy rains unspoken argument immediate action Incr easin Amount Water The attack poblemofi6rea Sin heamountofwaterinKitui wells underlying ground water Seven boreholes attempts successfully drilled District durin campaign aainst Italian Somaliland under auspices Local Native Council In areas lowest rainfall boreholes appear great blessing periods drought there literally water In eases either cattle driven miles waterin places which already occupied other natives To boreholes operated handpumps which advantage keepin mechanically simple require diesel engines raise water greater depth hundred latter require supplies transported increased maintenance Boreholes disadvantage entirely outside natives traditional knowledge Psychologically desirable which built maine local labor minimum outside supervision funds Proposals small privilege watering would cover upkeep estimated annum after govermaent initial capital expenditure Minimizln Effects Drought If despiteeonserionanda empts 0Increasethesupply there still enough water problem approached another Acute water shortage means witherin crops dying stock In famine possibility extreme declining What overcome local failures continued development better means transport Transpor Kitul District means roads built maintained either Public Works Department overmnent Local Native Council Roads earth generally being improved there increase number African owned lorries carryin stuffs within District outside world While prevention starvation govertment relief quite better provision against drought famine locally In recent years District issioners reported economy mhiftln based cattle based money suitor substitute agreed number purchase required number cattle prospective father trend accelerated after reurnir askaristhsere paydacculaed cattledoats still arebeosbols oilealth ratherththewealth ofmoyinciroula oninthestetsineased elyas cattlepsto eentthamyyounmen enoch thebdepeaeither rainared ordefydiionby elopi In reoti desirable fliesnhave ashreseesthwhich theyopurose fooddungffieult The north Dstriot viewed Growin crops showtn droughresistant another method scrub cover which helps explain battin problem Mllet oultvation evaporation A deapreaden those loalies mediu distinguish despiteitshardyture heeryfail hepenter_ofthe eyear three other thepeopleareleaitogrmerecassa soeefsrequire aoage oassa Not rootsiotr cropsfl butisees asprocaaimtiao oflocust iohinbadarsyspevebitofenliefr entire isurroui The future Kitui Akamba rising standard living based better water SetbaOks oeour eneour baras Distriot Ccssioner permis siontooolleotfun ranewsohoolraherthanwaitoyears untilhe expandin government sohool building program reaches their village visit people toiled anextr atwoweeks toake itbroader hiher stronger plans oalled KiWi District Africa Although water shortage widespread there Kituis letter suggest start solutions apply universally The greatest contribution Point IV oould might TO TAKE THE LEAD IN SCIENTIFIC TECHNICAL AND MATERIAL WORK TOWARD SOLVING WATERPROB THROUGHOUT DRY AFRICA Sineerely yours Received New York