Abstract

The rapid population growth increases water demand and affects water allocation systems as well as water resources management plans to satisfy the basic water needs for both human and nature. This has called upon the adoption of the integrated water resources management (IWRM) approach which promotes the coordination and management of water, land and related resources to maximize the economic and social welfare in an equitable manner without compromising the ecosystem. Water management and the implementation of IWRM approach cannot be achieved without proper working institutions that can coordinate and manage the implementation strategies. The aim of this paper is to establish a national water resources management authority in Rwanda that will manage and coordinate the national water resources in a sustainable way taking the water resources management bodies in Rwanda, in comparison with the Kenyan water resources management bodies as a good example. An extensive review was conducted using governmental documents, and key institutional elements were analyzed by evaluating their performance in comparing with the Kenyan institutions. The paper revealed that Rwandan water resources management is a fragmented way and the level of control is sophisticated without taking into consideration the management of water resources at a catchment level, which affects the coordination, management and the implementation of water policies. The results show that most of the water laws and policies in Rwanda should be changed and establish the Rwandan water resources management Authority that has the power to control and coordinate the water resources implementation policies.

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