The National government will provide tents, blankets and mattresses to 1000 families displaced by flooding due to the rise in water levels of Lake Baringo.
The Rift Valley Regional Commissioner (RC), George Natembeya said that the government through the Ministry of Devolution will intervene by distributing non-food items among other forms of assistance to the affected needy families.
Speaking in Silale area during an assessment of the impact of swelling Lake Baringo on Tuesday, Natembeya said that the sharp increase in the water body has also destroyed critical infrastructure facilities in schools, health facilities, hotels, roads and security outposts.
“Schools such as Ngambo girls and Salabani have all been submerged in water, occasioning loss of physical infrastructure and learning materials. Our police officers have also been displaced forcing us to relocate them to safer ground,” he added.
Natembeya who also toured the Geothermal Development Company (GDC) exploration sites in Silale and Paka Hills blocks accompanied by the County Commissioner, Henry Wafula and GDC Regional Manager North Rift, John Langat, commended the company for the excellent development activities in the region.
He noted that the local community has greatly benefitted from the ongoing explorations in terms of accessing clean and safe drinking water for themselves and their livestock.
“This area is a semi-arid region and that the piping of water all the way from Lake Baringo, a distance of 120 Kilometres has alleviated the suffering people had been experiencing in trekking far in search of water and it has also solved conflicts arising from the resource,” Natembeya said.
Besides the provision of water, Natembeya added that local residents, especially the youth have been recruited as casual workers within the exploration blocks.
He challenged the company to do more through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), by establishing learning institutions especially boarding schools, so that all eligible children can be absorbed to pursue their education.
The RC assured the GDC Regional Manager that the government will provide adequate support to ensure that all the projects being undertaken in the area go on without any undue interference.
On insecurity, Natembeya said that the remote nature of the environment has contributed to the deep rooted retrogressive cultural practices of cattle rustling and banditry, but noted the opening up of the area will help in stamping out the vices and allow the community to engage in meaningful alternative sources of livelihoods.
The RC pointed out that the improvement in road network by the company has made responses by security officers much easier and faster.
By Joshua Kibet
