TURKANA: Residents of Turkana County are set to benefit from the implementation of 16 new water projects spearheaded by the Kerio Valley Development Authority (KVDA). This initiative is expected to significantly reduce the distances residents, particularly women, previously had to travel to access water for domestic and livestock use.
According to Kenya News Agency, KVDA CEO Sammy Naporos announced that six of the projects planned for the current financial year have already been completed. These projects aim to improve water accessibility for approximately 25,000 households and 280,000 livestock, enhancing the community’s resilience against climate change and addressing food insecurity and malnutrition issues.
In a speech delivered during the handover of the Lokichar water project and other drought mitigation initiatives, Beatrice Askul, the Cabinet Secretary for EAC Affairs, Arid and Semi-Arid Lands, and Regional Development, urged the local community to safeguard the new water infrastructure against vandalism. “We must, as a community, protect our water projects so that we can benefit from more,” she emphasized.
Despite the progress, Askul acknowledged that the current projects are insufficient to meet all community needs. She noted that the government plans to collaborate with other partners to expand water access further and will actively seek community feedback during project launches to ensure the initiatives align with local needs.
Mr. Naporos highlighted that the Lokichar project, which cost Sh10 million, includes a borehole, solar panels, fencing, livestock troughs, and community water points. This project alone is expected to benefit 800 households and 40,000 livestock. He appealed to residents to protect the infrastructure from vandalism to ensure its longevity and effectiveness.
The KVDA board chairman echoed the call for community involvement in protecting the projects and mentioned that board members and staff would engage with local communities to better understand their needs, which will guide future support priorities.