Experts to lead dam construction projects to save government funds, says Ruto

Deputy President William Ruto consoles Peris Moraa Ndege the mother to the late Constable Casmel Ndege and wife Jeniffer Karimi. Constable Ndege was an outrider attached to the DP. [Rebecca Nduku| Dpps]

The Government will use university experts to determine construction costs of dams across the country, Deputy President William Ruto has said.

Ruto said the experts will help the government reduce costs of construction, which had been inflated in the past. He said some universities have been involved in irrigation schemes that have been cheap to manage and very successful.

Addressing university experts yesterday at his Karen office in Nairobi during presentation of the validation of Galana/Kulalu Dam project, the DP said the government has decided to take a different approach to reduce costs.

“We have resolved to use a different benchmark by involving university experts on determination of the exact amount of money to be used in construction of dams... We must get value for every shilling we put in any project,” said Ruto.

The DP told the experts to work closely with the ministries of Water and Agriculture. “We want you to help us achieve this national task. Your efforts will help our country ensure project valuation is right,” he said.

He told the meeting, attended by among others Agriculture Principal Secretary Richard Lesiyambe and his water counterpart, Fred Segor, that the government was committed to ensuring food security.

Ruto said plans were under way to construct 15 dams to provide water for irrigation in arid and semi-arid areas, thus alleviate the perennial food shortages.

“We cannot continue to be talking about food shortage. This is why we want to have sustainable projects that can ensure food security round the clock,” said Ruto.

Mr Lesiyambe said his ministry would work closely with university experts to come up with the real costs of the Galana/Kulalu among other dams the government plans to construct.

Ruto, at the same time, met the family of his police outrider, Casmel Ndege, who was killed in accident last Saturday in Nairobi while on duty.

“As Government, we want to convey to you our deepest condolences. The late Ndege was a hardworking and dedicated officer,” the Deputy President told the family members who included Ndege's widow Jennifer Karimi and his mother, Peris Moraa.

The late Ndege will be buried on Tuesday next week at his Nyamonge home in Nyamira County.