It is a sigh of relief for about 5,000 Mukogodo East residents in Laikipia North Sub County after benefiting from a water project that is also set to reduce water competition by wild animals.
James Ramunye, a resident, said that they would walk for 15 kilometres in search of water, a situation that had jeopardized their normal way of life.
“We have now benefited from water unlike before when we travelled for many kilometres to fetch it. If you go early in the morning, you are sure that your day is wasted for only that activity,” said Ramunye.
He said they had to schedule specific days to fetch water since the entire community lacked that precious commodity and that the water project had further reduced human-wildlife conflict in the area.
Another resident Paul Kiperus, said that after the rehabilitation of the Kiwanja borehole by the FAO, the water was enough to sustain the whole community, now connected with piped water to their homesteads.
“The water project is of great benefit to us and especially in dry spells. Livestock, wild animals and people depend on it. Some walk for over 20 kilometres from Ilpolei to access this commodity here,” revealed Kiperus.
Kiperus called on the County Government and other partners to sink more boreholes in the area aimed at eradicating human-wildlife conflicts over water in the community.
FAO project officer Patrick Mugi revealed that they had rehabilitated about five water projects in Laikipia County targeting to reduce human-wildlife conflicts that are associated with water.
“Kiwanja Ndege water project has benefited everyone here. About 5,000 people can now get clean drinking water in their homestead. We have also been able to rehabilitate other water infrastructure within the County,” said Mugi.
He revealed that they were undertaking similar water projects in Isiolo and Marsabit Counties.
Recently, Laikipia Governor Joshua Irungu commissioned water drilling equipment worth Sh40 million saying the County government was committed to ensuring that about 300 boreholes are sunk in the next five-year period to address the prevailing water crisis.
By Muturi Mwangi
