The Effects of Water Reforms on the Health of Maasai Community of Central Division Kajiado District

Abstract

The objectives of this study were: to investigate how the reforms in the water sector has affected the Maasai pastoral community (Loodokilani Location, Central Division, Kajiado District),to examine trends in water-related diseases (hygiene and dirty water-related diseases) and water reforms ,to find out changes in management of water as a result of water reforms? , to examine the community perceptions of the water reforms and to assess the objectives of the water reforms and emerging effects on the community. The study site is Loodokilani Location, Central Division of Kajiado District. The area is mainly inhabited by the Maasai who practice semi-nomadic Pastoral ism. The study focus was an investigation on the effects of the water Reform process on the local structures .The main data collection tool was a household survey involving 62 households (31 from Elangata Ewuas and 31 from Toroka Sub-Locations, Loodokilani location) supplemented by twelve key informant interviews conducted at three levels: Community, District and Ministry of Water and Irrigation Headquarters Nairobi. Study key findings: This study has established that the Reforms in water have manifest and latent outcomes, then Positive and negative outcomes. Latent and manifest outcomes are fully discussed in the last chapter of the study. The positive effects include: establishment of new structures that has realized the following: increased revenue collection in the urban places, clear guidelines on management of catchment areas, increased water availability especially in the urban areas, control of wastages through illegal connections and rehabilitation of broken down water points and construction of new water points. In the health sector, there is a general decline of water related diseases as reflected in the study site, which is also a general reflection in the entire district (Kajiado)..................................................