ABSTRACT
Water is treated as an infinite resource as it is a prerequisite for livelihood and survival. However, increasing demand and simultaneously decreasing supply are aggravating the pressures on this treasured resource. Thus, in this introductory chapter, the state of water in East Africa and particularly in Kenya and Uganda and how it is treated and used will be introduced. The chapter will shift its focus then to Lake Naivasha and Lake Wamala. Both lakes will be introduced in respect to the aspect of water, climate change effects and conflict. The motivation of case selection follows four variables: (i) effect of climate change on the water resources, (ii) population growth, (iii) inner state migration flows and (iv) economic development as part of the governments’ agenda to achieve middle-income status. This is followed by presenting the main problem statement and overall research question of the book. The book will argue that the local stakeholders’ water-related conflicts are the result of the localization of the diplomatic conflict between the national and sub-national-level actors. This argument will be analysed using the following main research question: How does water management influence inner-state low-key conflict intensity in Kenya and Uganda?
