Sh450 Million for water projects in Kerio Valley

BY WALTER KIBET

The government of Kenya has allocated an additional 450 million shillings for the funding of 30 water projects in the North Rift region through the regional development.

Through the Ministry of East African Community and Regional Development ASALS the Principal Secretary in the Department of Regional Development and ASALs Salim Dakota noted that the region has been faced with insecurity due to the scarcity of shared resources such as water.

Speaking at Rokocho Honey Processing Factory where he commissioned a 7.5 million shillings Community borehole, the PS said the projects will include sinking of more boreholes and construction of boreholes which will solve water problems in the region.

“Water is a scarce resource in this region that has brought conflicts among pastoralist communities living in Kerio Valley and by bringing additional water projects we will have peace in the area” PS Salim noted.

The PS said that the regional developments will be working with the water ministry to ensure that the water projects once complete will be distributed to households.

In a bid to improve the livelihoods in the north rift region Dakota has said that the government wants farmers to move away from rain fed agriculture and shift to irrigation farming.

The PS promised to ensure that Elgeyo Marakwet County which was previously classified under the Arid and Semi-arid Lands will be reviewed and included.

“We are currently looking at the factors that led to the removal of this county from the ASALs while all the indicators have shown that it should be included in the arid lands” he noted.

The Kerio Valley Development Authority (KVDA) Managing Director Sammy Naporos has said that the water pans and boreholes will significantly reduce the conflicts which have always been fueled by scarcity of water.

“We look forward to the next financial year as we get additional funds to reach more communities and farmers in terms of improvement of their livelihood through water provision” Naporos said.

According to the PS the community borehole that was commissioned in Rokocho will serve up to 350 households who have been trekking for kilometers in search of clean water during the drought season and in addition the water is expected to see more than 40,000 livestock in the area get water.