Residents of Nazarene IDP camp and Turkana University College have received a major boost in their efforts to address water shortage experienced in their locality after a donor drilled a borehole in the area.
The Sh3 million borehole sunk by Khalsa Aid international in conjunction with the Sikhs Kenya and Ramgarhia Youth Association will be handed over to the community after the contractor completes the works this week.
Speaking when he toured the area on Saturday, the chairman Ramgarhia Youth Association Mr Inderjit Singh Thethy said the rains witnessed in the area in the last two weeks had caused siltation and affected the commissioning plan. The borehole was set to be commissioned on Saturday.
“Due to the heavy rains witnessed in the area in the previous weeks a pump was submerged and there was siltation. We have been advised by the university principal to postpone the commissioning of the borehole for safety reasons,” said Singh Thethy.
He added that a team will be in the area this week to finalise the construction works in readiness for the commissioning.
He said that they have drilled other boreholes in Makueni County but this was the first borehole to be sunk in Turkana County.
The organisation first came to Turkana County in 2019 and has conducted surveys of five boreholes.
Turkana University College Principal Prof. George Chemining’wa said the varsity was committed to improving the lives of the community living near the varsity through corporate social responsibility projects.
“We will wait to have the borehole inspected so that it is functional. We will continue to bring in other partners in tree planting, medical camps and other areas because we are key partners in the development of the education sector in this county,” said Prof. Chemining’wa.
Two weeks ago, the varsity teamed up with county department of livestock in deworming, hooves trimming of sheep and goats in Turkana central sub county.
The team also engaged members from the Kenya Forest Research Institute to plant 220 trees in the university and the neighborhood.
Khalsa Aid International is a UK-based humanitarian relief charity that provides support around the world to victims of natural and man-made disasters such as floods, earthquakes, famine and war.
It helps distribute food, water, clothing, medical and sanitation supplies during calamities.
“We fund and build semi-permanent shelters, if needed – anything that’s required in those early days to save lives, reduce people’s immediate suffering and help maintain their dignity,” the organisation says on its website.
The charity was founded by Ravinder (Ravi) Singh, who was struck by the plight of the refugees in Kosovo in 1999.
By Peter Gitonga
