Minister roots for more investment in irrigation

By Paul Mutua

Water Minister Charity Ngilu has called for immediate intensive tree-planting in the Mau Complex to restore water sources.

Ngilu said illegal logging is still going on as debate rages on how to move the settlers from the water tower.

The minister said the formation of a secretariat to oversee the removal of settlers from Mau forest should not hinder measures to contain illegal logging.

She spoke in her Kitui Central constituency during the commissioning of the Katitika water project.

Safaricom CEO Michael Joseph and Kitui Central DC Joshua Chepchieng’ attended the function.

Ngilu said her ministry has commenced construction of Umaa, Chemusus, Kiserian, and Baldasa dams to harvest rainwater.

More priority

The minister said the Government has not invested adequately in irrigation, which she said should be given more priority in budgetary allocation.

"We need to learn from recurrent drought and inject more money in irrigation to guarantee food security," said Ngilu.

The Safaricom chief said his firm had entered into partnership with pump manufacturer, Grundfos Lifelink, to enable rural communities access safe water and pay for it through M-Pesa.

Joseph said the partnership is in line with the company’s commitment to supporting worthy causes within communities and deploying appropriate technologies to solve challenges in communities.

 

 

Read all about: Charity Ngilu water Mau Safaricom Grundfos Lifelink M-Pesa

 

 

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