| dc.description.abstract | The importance of watercourses to human life and de
velopment cannot be overemphasized. From
communication, trade, agriculture and the location
of human settlements, they have played an
immeasurable role
Calas
. Almost 60% of Africa lies within shared rivers an
d lake basins. The Nile is
shared by more than seven nations, the Zambezi by s
ix, and the Congo by nine. With populations on the
rise, many countries have been labelled 'water scar
ce' nations, and in fifteen years it is predicted t
hat
many people on earth will be exposed to water short
age consequences such as famine and disease.
Thirteen African nations already suffer 'water stre
ss' and soon another twelve will join the list unle
ss
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 Academ
ic Seminar with the
theme 'Shared Waters, Shared Opportunities'. This b
ook 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 Relati
ons - Hekima College.
For most of 2009 Kenya suffered severe problems cau
sed by flooding which took many lives and
destroyed homes and important infrastructures. It h
ighlighted the issues of water management and
water conflicts, not only in Kenya but in other par
ts of East Africa, as it was made abundantly clear
that
not only scarcity of water, but excess water, incor
rectly managed, can be disastrous.
This timely, scholarly book presents discussions of
the issues which underlie the major water crises i
n
the region. They open the debate into the water pro
blems of Kenya and East Africa in an effort to join
the global campaign to find solutions to these diff
iculties. | en |
