Residents of Turkana County have a reason to smile following the implementation of 16 water projects, thanks to the Kerio Valley Development Authority.
KVDA CEO Sammy Naporos said six of the projects earmarked for this financial year have already been completed.
The projects will reduce the long distances the residents, especially women, had to trek in search of water for homestead use and for their livestock.
Speaking when she handed over the Lokichar water project and other drought mitigation projects, Cabinet Secretary for EAC Affairs, Arid and Semi-Arid Lands, and Regional Development Beatrice Askul cautioned residents against vandalising the water infrastructure.
“We must, as a community, protect our water projects so that we can benefit from more,” she said.
The water projects will benefit 25,000 households and 280,000 livestock.
In addition, they will also help build household resilience against climate change and fight food insecurity and malnutrition.
She said the projects were still inadequate, adding the government would be engaging other partners to install more water projects.
She said the government officials will also be listening to the communities during the project launch to ensure the government gets feedback from the citizenry.
Mr. Naporos said the Lokichar project cost Sh10 million and appealed to the residents to protect the borehole and related water infrastructure against vandalism.
The project components include a borehole, solar panels, a fence, livestock troughs or watering points, and community water points. The project will benefit 800 households and 40,000 livestock.
KVDA board chairman said the residents can now use the water following the handover and also reiterated the need for the community to protect the project.
He said the board and staff will be visiting the communities to assess their needs for the purpose of ease in prioritising support.
By Peter Gitonga
