The Elgeyo Marakwet County Development Implementation Coordination Committee will convene a meeting of all stakeholders in the water sector to address the challenges facing the Sh.1.9 billion Sabor-Iten- Tambach water project.
The meeting Chaired by the County Commissioner (CC), Dr. Ahmed Omar resolved it was important that the problem involving the intake is addressed now as it risks rendering the project a white elephant.
The Presidential Delivery Unit Director, Duncan Mwariri said a meeting will be convened consisting of officials from the National Irrigation Board (NIB), Water Resources Management Authority (WARMA), National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) Rift Valley Water Works Development Agency (RVWWDA) and the Kenya Forest Services (KFS).
Members said though the completion of the project funded by the Belgian government through the Kenya government was important, it was even more important to ensure it serves its purpose which is providing water to 64,000 residents of Iten, Tambach towns and environs.
According to the County Conservator, Anthony Musyoka, there were two community projects and the Lower Sabor Irrigation project all of which abstracted water from river Charama which supplies water to the Sabor Iten Tambach water project.
This, he said had affected the flow of water to the multi billion project and if not addressed then the billions invested may go to waste.
Lucy Mburu from RVWWDA said the first phase which consisted the construction of the intake and treatment plant cost sh.1.5 billion while phase two consisting the laying of the pipes and purchase of 3,000 consumer metres cost sh.300 million.
Mrs. Mburu added that NIB which is implementing the Lower Sabor irrigation project had pledged to construct a dam from where they will get a pipe to boost the flow to the water project.
Joshua Kibet from Iten Water Services Company said they are currently laying a pipe from a nearby spring to get water to the Sabor-Iten-Tambach water project which runs dry especially during dry seasons.
He said the company had written to Nema to address the issue of abstraction upstream, saying during dry seasons they are forced to ration water to the residents as there was no flow to the weir.
By Alice Wanjiru
