Turkana County Department of Water Services has embarked on a three months’ joint venture with UNICEF aimed at delivering the first-ever Water services master plan for Lodwar Municipality and its immediate environs.
Speaking to Kenya News Agency after a meeting with the team mandated to provide consultancy services towards achieving the intended goal at his office in Lodwar, Turkana County Chief Officer of the department of water, Moses Natome said the 25 years’ master plan will be collaboratively validated by all stakeholders before being adopted by the county for implementation.
“The final master plan document will be expected in two months’ time after the consultants have conducted and documented diagnostic and socio-economic assessments, feasibility studies, environmental and social impact assessment, cost designs as well as Operations and maintenance manual,” said Natome.
He pointed out that the making of the plan was born out of the need to be proactive to the changing dynamics of urban areas in Turkana which are currently witnessing massive growth and expansion due to better road infrastructure and the influx of private developers.
The Chief Officer lauded the plan as the second of its kind in Turkana after Governor Josphat Nanok launched a similar plan for the Kakuma Kalobeyei area in Turkana West.
Natome noted that plans were underway to reach out to all urban areas in Turkana with approved spatial plans.
He further urged the consultants to engage all the relevant stakeholders in their respective County and National Government departments since the project might need inputs from experts working in environment, Urban areas management, municipality management, health, finance among other areas.
Present in the meeting were the Acting Assistant Director of Water Services, Paul Lotum, Sospeter Wekesa Consultant for water services, and Jackson Mutia from UNICEF.
By Ekuwam Sylvester
