Abstract:
The unpredictable climate change and increased anthropogenic activities cause
continuous streamflow variations, impacting the socioeconomic characteristics of many
regions relying on stream water for sustenance. This paper extensively reviewed the
literature on streamflow variation in the Upper Tana River Basin (UTRN) in Kenya,
highlighting the characteristics, causes and impacts of streamflow variability. The review
also looked at proposed resilience and coping strategies and stakeholders' engagement
in Kenya towards reducing streamflow variability. Twenty studies on streamflow
characteristics in the UTRB were reviewed following a systematic search using the
google scholar engine. Six of the identified studies looked at the impact of climate
change, three at water abstraction, and three at land use changes, while eight analysed
the combined effects of climate change and anthropogenic activities on streamflow
variations. The studies showed a positive correlation between climate change and
streamflow and a negative correlation between water abstraction and streamflow. An
overall gradual decrease in streamflow was identified. Based on the studies reviewed,
climate change and anthropogenic activities govern streamflow characteristics in the
UTRB. Analysis, however, showed in-situ data gaps and the paucity of scientific
knowledge on the actual measurements, monitoring and prediction of streamflow
variation. Future research should consider combining land use and hydrological models
to evaluate better the effects of land use changes on streamflow variation. Satellite and
reanalysis datasets should complement the scarce in-situ meteorological data and
regionalisation of hydrological model parameters employed in ungauged river basins
to increase the efforts geared towards monitoring and managing streamflow variations.
