Kerio Valley Development Authority (KVDA) has commissioned two boreholes estimated to benefit 6000 households in the arid and semi-arid areas in West Pokot County.
According to KVDA Managing Director (MD) Sammy Naporos, one of the mandates is to promote water access among the arid and semi-arid communities due to recurrent drought experienced in the county where many people are facing a lot of severe and acute water shortage.
He said the project will help in increasing the number of livestock in the border of Uganda and Kenya urging the pastoralists to take advantage of the Natira and Loktadel boreholes.
Speaking during the handing over of the projects to the Department of Water and Natural Resources, Naporos specified that the boreholes will not only benefit households but also 30,000 livestock along the border of Uganda and Kenya thus a lot of increase in livestock is expected.
He stated that the project will promote coexistence and peace within the locals saying that sometimes they face a lot of cattle rustling and movement thus causing conflicts and a lot of discomfort among themselves.
“I think the water projects programmes to a larger extent will promote coexistence and peace building in this particular area,” said the MD.
Additionally, he said the programme has contributed to innovation among the communities whereby a number of households are practicing subsistence farming.
KVDA Chairperson Mark Chesergon said the government is in a move to implement drought mitigation programmes through water provision in arid and semi-arid areas.
He said they commissioned two boreholes in Kapenguria Constituency stating that it is among the 71 boreholes that are yet to be completed.
He said the whole Constituency will now generate water for domestic and livestock use in the region expounding that the area is known as water scarcity zone hence it is the government’s mandate to make sure the people get enough water.
KVDA board member Simon Kalekem extended his gratitude to the National Government in their support of sponsoring the whole project and aligning with the President’s bottom-up agenda.
He noted that the area is still in need of more boreholes that will contribute to plenty of food among the arid and semi-arid communities across the county.
He said when they partner with the County Government together with other well-wishers like NGOs, they will be able to transform many lives in the region.
He urged the community to take good care of the water projects and make sure they use the water for their own wellbeing noting that they should count themselves among the luckiest communities.
Riwo Ward Member of County Assembly David Alukulem said the water project is going to help the schools around the area since the area is in need of water and the people around travel for long distances in search of the vital resource.
“The community is so happy and we believe that children around this area will have good health due to this wonderful water project,” said the MCA.
He said that the project will support the planting of trees since the main problem has been scarcity of water.
Natirira Primary School Head Teacher Joseph Kemoi urged KVDA to continue working in the area, mentioning that the demand was still high as many schools still had a challenge of getting water.
By Anthony Melly and Richard Muhambe
