At least 5,000 households in Kumpa, Kajiado Central, have benefited from a water project, courtesy of the Africa Medical and Research Foundation (AMREF) in conjunction with Maji Milele, Maji Storage, the Netherlands Nairobi Embassy, and the County Government of Kajiado.
The project has been set up in an effort to mitigate climate change effects and build agricultural resilience in Kajiado County, which has been hard hit by drought for the past four years.
Speaking during the launch of the mega borehole, Danny Dubbeldeman, the Chief Executive Officer of AMREF, said that the launch of the project is key to achieving their mission of lasting healthcare in Africa.
“Clean drinking water is crucial as it means good health and ensures growth, especially for women and children, and economic development. The farm is already in place and uses drips to maximise water, and we are proud to be part of this,’’ said Ms. Danny.
Daniel Kurao, a Project Manager with AMREF Health Africa Kenya, said that the water project is a new model of doing water business. He noted that community water projects often fail in terms of management and governance.
“This kind of water project that we are launching today is unique because the communities that are going to manage the enterprise will be able to manage it better because they are well skilled in governance and have a better way of collecting money and resources. Money collected will help them do the maintenance, and the water is metered; therefore, there is no wastage,’’ he said.
Kurao further revealed that through the same water, they are able to address other aspects of determinants; looking at the current climate change, they have embraced smart agriculture as they are using solar energy in farming to ensure that households and communities are able to put food on their tables.
He said that the project will create job opportunities for youth and women, and in a few years to come, households will have enough income to send their children to school.
On his part, Kajiado’s Deputy Governor, Martine Moshisho, thanked the partners who came on board to help the needy community.
“I want to appreciate, on behalf of the governor, all the partners who have come up with this water project to compliment government efforts and invested so much in new technology in water starters to manage water. There is no water spillage or waste,’’ said the Deputy Governor.
Moshisho further said that the project will serve as a model that can be replicated across the county and see how the county government will be able to borrow the new technology, as it will help to manage water and ensure that every drop really counts.
Viola Kilel, a Policy Officer responsible for microeconomic investments in the water sector at the embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Nairobi, noted that this is a landmark priority in the water sector, which they see as the top sector for trade and investment between Kenya and the Netherlands.
“Looking at the project today, it’s really a test to the potential for commercial financing in the water sector and more so blended and innovative finance for the water sector, and we see this helping us reduce revenue water, but also align with our objectives in terms of sustainable economic development and leave no one behind in the arid and semiarid areas, of which Kajiado is one of them,’’ said Viola.
By Sammy Rayiani
