Tug-of-War on Environmental Values Impact of the Flower Industry on the Management and Conservation of Water Resources in Lake Naivasha, Kenya

The study looks at how the actual policy and strategy for management and conservation of water resources in the Naivasha Basin in Kenya has been framed and influenced by some influential actors, through the use of scientific knowledge and a participatory approach. Through their power, they legitimize and package the strategy to solve water problems by employing a ‘bottom-up approach’. This research conducted an analysis of the methods they use which led to the identification of three main scientific theories explaining water problems on the basin namely: that flower growers are responsible for water problems in the lake; that all users cause the problem and that which considers the natural fluctuation of the lake. Furthermore, the research also indicated a discussion over the sustainability of water resources and the actual course of events as fundamentally framed in a technical definition influenced by the media which lead to the marginalization of other less powerful actors in the area.