More than 5000 residents of Seretunin, including Moi Teachers Training College (TTC) in Baringo, will in the next one month benefit from improved access to clean and reliable water once a giant borehole being constructed by county government is completed.
Commissioning the construction of the borehole sited at Seretunin Market Centre on Monday, the Deputy Governor (DG), Jacob Chepkwony said the facility is going to relieve the communities living in the water scarce area the agony of walking long distance to fetch water for domestic use and livestock.
The DG said that the borehole implemented through the department of water will serve among others learning institutions such as Seretunin Mixed Day Secondary School, Kapkawa Secondary School and Seretunin Youth Polytechnic.
“We are grateful to the county government led by Stanley Kiptis for considering drilling the borehole here in Seretunin. It is a well done job and I hope the project will go a long way in solving the perennial water problem here in Seretunin and also at our biggest learning institution, Moi TTC, Baringo,”he said.
The county government, he stated, targets to drill at least 50 boreholes in a year across the county’s seven sub counties, which he noted, will be a great milestone in the realisation of the county’s manifesto and agenda on water.
Chepkwony restated that efficient provision of water will not only contribute to sustainable economic development but to poverty reduction and security.
“I hope the area people and the institutions will greatly gain from the improved access to clean and safe water once the project is completed in a month’s time,” observed the deputy governor.
The DG accompanied by county executive committee (CEC) for Water, Enock Keston, Chief Officer, John Kidogo and area MCA, Peter Kebut said the administration of governor Kiptis is committed to increase investment in the water sub sector through drilling of an average of 50 boreholes a year using recently acquired drilling equipment.
On floods,Chepkwony regretted that the lower parts of Baringo South constituency like Illchamus and Mukutani wards were currently experiencing myriad of problems like displacements resulting from a new phenomenon of climate change.
He said many tourist lodges, learning institutions, health facilities, government offices and homes have been submerged after lakes Baringo, Bogoria and 94 burst their banks due to unprecedented rise in water levels.
Chepkwony added that the sharp rise in water levels of the water bodies has also destroyed critical road infrastructure like the Marigat-Loruk-Chemolingot and Loruk-Tangulbei in which some sections have been cut off rendering movement of people and goods impossible.
“We appeal to the national government to intervene and come on board to assist the affect communities through distribution of food, non-food items and building of their resilience. Many people working in the swallowed hotels have lost jobs thus worsening the already high poverty levels in the area,” governor Chepkwony implored.
The DG has urged families who live around the three water bodies to take precaution and move to safe grounds to avoid loss of lives and their properties as national and county governments look for a solution to the challenging monumental problem.
By Joshua Kibet
