KVDA builds 50 water pans, dams

By EDWIN CHESEREK

Kerio Valley Development Authority (KVDA) has constructed dams and water pans in the North Rift to boost water harvesting.

KVDA Managing Director Francis Kipkech said Sh25 million has been set aside for the projects.

He added that more than 50 water pans and sub-surface dams have been constructed across the region to serve residents and their livestock.

Mr Kipkech announced that KVDA has embarked on formulating long term drought mitigation measures.

"We are striving to enhance efficient and economical provision of water within our area of jurisdiction," he told The Standard during a tour of the projects.

He added the storage facilities would enhance water conservation. The projects were first initiated five years ago but some stalled because of insecurity occasioned by cattle rustling and banditry.

He regretted that intermittent drought was a major challenge to the establishment of sustainable rural water service provision.

Kipkech noted that water distribution in the region is uneven and largely dictated by geographical and climatic factors.

"Much of the water is available in the highlands and little in lowlands, creating water deficits," he said.

Furrows

The director said the water storage facilities had been constructed in strategic positions.

Over the years, he said, the residents had been losing livestock to recurrent drought.

He announced that water furrows would be constructed to channel more water to the pans to make them sustainable.

Kipkech called for private construction of water pans to supplement Government efforts to curb water scarcity. He was optimistic that the communities benefiting directly from the projects would maintain their sustainability.

Kipkech said KVDA was putting emphasis on catchment conservation and sustainable utilisation and management of natural resources towards poverty reduction.