By Johnson Chengo
Relief to Kilifi County residents as 11,828 are set to benefit from the Ksh. 100,225,062 Bamba – Shirango Water Supply Project to be commissioned by the Ministry of water, sanitation and irrigation in conjunction with the county government of Kilifi and Water Sector Trust Fund on Monday.
The Mnagoni – Midoina – Ndharako Water Project is located in Bamba-Midoina to Shirango water pipeline project is situated in Rimarapera village, Mitangani, Midoina and Gede sub locations, Mitangani location, Ganze Sub-County in Kilifi County covering an area of about 73 km².
Along the proposed pipeline, institutions including Rimarapera dispensary, Midoina dispensary, Shirango dispensary, Rimarapera primary school, Mitangani Secondary school, Midoina Primary School and Midoina Secondary School were connected.
Dhalado ECDE and Pry1 School, Jira Primary School, Gede ECDE School, Ng’ambo ECDE School and Chamamba ECDE School were also connected.
Apart from reducing the distance and time taken to fetch water, the water project has facilitated improved water quality, water access at household level, schools and health facilities.
It has also improved public health and quality of life through reduced risk of waterborne and water-related diseases, increased public satisfaction with the rural environment, enhanced economic growth at the local level and also contribute to the national economy due to the growth of the livestock industry and farming as well as providing adequate water for domestic livestock and water for kitchen gardens.
Initially, the local community had to transport water from Mariango and Silaloni in Kwale County, a distance of over 10 km with bicycles and motorbikes where they bought water at Ksh.10 per 20 liters of Jerrycan.
At times, the communities got water supplied by water bowsers from Kilifi County government through the department of water occasioned by the poor state of the masonry water tanks located at community water points along the pipeline.
A total of 17,904 residents from Mnagoni, Rimarapera, Midoina, Mafuye, Mizhodo,
Dhalado, Chamamba, Ng’ambo, Ndharako, Gede and Shirango sublocations are set to benefit from the 2019 and 2021 projects with an additional projection of about 12,440 people to be supplied by 2031.
In Mitangani, Midoina and Gede locations, a total of 5,303 students and pupils from Rimarapera Primary, Mitangani Secondary, Midoina Primary, Midoina Secondary, Dhalado ECDE and Primary, Jira Primary, Gede ECDE, Ng’ambo ECDE, and Chamamba ECDE benefits from the 2019 and 2021 projects.
An additional 3,748 students and pupils from the same institutions are projected to benefit by the year 2031.
The project is in line with Kenya’s Ending Drought Emergencies Strategy, the National Government’s commitment to ending the worst of suffering caused by drought by 2022. A key partnership has been formed between the European Union and the National Government through the Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation.
Through the Water Sector Trust Fund, the European Union has funded the Ending Drought Emergencies: Climate Proofed Infrastructure for improved water supply and sanitation in Arid and Semi-Arid Land areas (ASAL).
The Government of Kenya commitment to the Common Programme Framework (CPF) on Ending Drought Emergencies (EDE) targets 23 ASAL Counties. The European Union through the 11th Development Fund has provided financing towards 8 ASAL Counties including Baringo, Kajiado, Kilifi, Kitui, Mandera, Samburu, Taita-Taveta and West Pokot.
Under the EDE Program, the 8 Counties have implemented the
Climate Proofed Infrastructure programme which will be financed at an amount of EUR € 27,100,000. The National Government of Kenya will contribute Ksh. 453,000,000 while the Counties will contribute Ksh. 348,000,000.
The programme seeks to aid over 360,000 Kenyans to have better access to water and sanitation services, better conserve their water resources and improve on their
Livelihood which is in line with the Big Four Agenda on Food Security.
The Ministry of Water and Sanitation has put a strategy towards Ending Drought
Emergencies and overly built resilience of Water Infrastructure to withstand the effects of Climate Change. This is being done through construction of large and medium dams to store water as well as investing in groundwater storage through managed aquifer recharge by making use of storm water generated during the rainy seasons.
“As a Ministry we continue to ensure that in resources management and allocation,
The Ministry enhances transparency and accountability in planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of projects and programs as well as improving on preventive maintenance to ensure sustainability,” the statement read partly.
The Water Sector Trust Fund has been awarded a Euro 17,650,000 (Ksh 2 Billion) grant to finance the implementation of the Ending Drought Emergencies.
The financing agreement signed between the European Union and the Government of Kenya received National Government Counterpart funding of KSh. 453 million and County Government contribution of KSh. 348 million.
