Shared Waters, Shared Opportunities: Hydropolitics in East Africa

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French Institute for Research in Africa (IFRA), is a regional research institute working in Eastern Africa, under the auspices of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It offers a research platform run by a team of about ten persons, whose role is to support work and exchange of information in social sciences and humanities. IFRA therefore contributes in promoting various scienti ic and scholarly works in East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda) by favouring a multi-disciplinary approach. Jesuit Hakimani Centre (JHC), is a social think-tank of the Jesuit Fathers Registered Trustees of Eastern Africa. The name Hakimani con lates two Kiswahili words Haki ( ustice) and Imani (faith), both leading to Amani (peace). The research oriented institution combines religious, public and African values, human rights, legal services, advocacy, research, peacebuilding, healing and reconciliation. The importance of watercourses to human life and development cannot be overemphasised. From communication, trade, agriculture and the location of human settlements, they have played an immeasurable role. Almost 60% of Africa lies within shared rivers and lake basins. The Nile is shared by more than seven nations, the Zambezi by six, and the Congo by nine. With populations on the rise, many countries have been labeled ‘water scarce’ nations, and in ifteen years it is predicted that many people on earth will be exposed to water shortage consequences such as famine and disease. Thirteen African nations already suffer ‘water stress’ and soon another twelve will oin the list unless something is done to thwart the problem. On March 20, 2009 in Nairobi, Hekima College collaborated with Jesuit Hakimani Centre and the French Institute for Research in Africa (IFRA) to host the Hekima College Water Day Academic Seminar with the theme “Shared Waters, Shared Opportunities”. This book is the result of critical research and presentations by internationally renowned scholars, researchers and experts, and students of the Institute of Peace Studies and International Relations—Hekima College. For most of 2009 Kenya suffered severe problems caused by looding which took many lives and destroyed homes and important infrastructures. It highlighted the issues of water management and water con licts, not only in Kenya but in other parts of East Africa, as it was made abundantly clear that not only scarcity of water, but excess water, incorrectly managed, can be disastrous. This timely, scholarly book presents discussions of the issues which underlie the ma or water crises in the region. They open the debate into the water problems of Kenya and East Africa in an effort to oin the global campaign to ind solutions to these dif iculties. ...