Laikipia County Government has commissioned Sh40 million water drilling equipment aimed at addressing water crises within the county.
Laikipia Governor Joshua Irungu said his administration has partnered with the National Bank of Kenya for financing of the equipment, which included a terameter machine used to establish water potential in the area and test pumping and drilling machines.
“Water is life, and as county government, we vowed that no resident would walk for more than a kilometer to access clean drinking water, and that’s why we partnered with the National Bank of Kenya to address that challenge of water,” said Irungu.
He said that Laikipia has witnessed a perennial drought, and with the water drilling equipment, residents were set to benefit from over 300 boreholes during his five-year tenure.
“We are sure that, with this kind of state-of-the-art machines, we can get water from all corners of Laikipia, and we want to commit to residents that we will drill for them sufficient boreholes for clean drinking water,” said the governor.
He pointed out that schools, hospitals, police posts, and community settlements without water would be given priority and at the same time facilitate reticulation to nearby homesteads.
Irungu said that in partnership with other local leaders, every homestead would have clean, piped water to alleviate the burden of water scarcity and address water-related conflicts.
Laikipia Water and Irrigation Committee Member Joseph Gitahi said that it was a sigh of relief for residents after they appealed for the water drilling machines from the county to cut the cost of water drilling within the county.
He noted it was a life changer for residents since they would engage in agribusiness without fear of water shortages and at the same time boost the food production sector in the county.
By Muturi Mwangi
