Kisii Women Representative Dorice Aburi has urged the government and development partners to invest in water harvesting initiatives in the region, so as to boost agricultural productivity and promote food security.
Speaking during the launch of a borehole project at Bobaracho Ward in Kisii Central Sub-County, Aburi said that Kisii receives adequate rainfall throughout the year, yet most of the rainwater was going to waste.
“It is unfortunate that after it rains, women and children are seen walking for long distances in search of water from nearby springs and rivers for domestic use,” she lamented.
The Woman Rep said the provision of water harvesting tools for the residents will not only increase access to clean water among households, but also enable them harvest the water for commercial use.
Aburi added the water harvesting initiatives will also prevent women and children, especially girls from going to fetch water early in the morning or late in the evening, thereby exposing them to sexual violence.
Further, she reiterated her commitment to sensitizing the residents of Kisii on the importance of water storage and ensure they benefit from the national water harvesting and storage programmes.
The area Member of County Assembly (MCA), Ibrahim Onkubo lauded the MP for initiating the borehole project saying that residents of the neighbouring wards will also benefit from the clean water.
“This project will be a game changer for our women and girls who walk for more than two kilometres in difficult terrain in search of clean water,” said Onkubo.
Notably, the Woman Rep has now drilled boreholes in the nine sub-counties within Kisii, courtesy of the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF).
By Mercy Osongo
