Communities resolve water project standoff

By EDWIN CHESEREK

The standoff over establishment of Sh170 million Kenyans for Kenya initiative in Marakwet East and East Pokot districts has finally been resolved. The resolution was arrived at in a meeting held at Tot trading centre yesterday between area leaders and Kenya Red Cross Society.

Leaders from Marakwet had earlier opposed the decision to set up the water project alleging there was a plot to short-change the community and demanded a structured plan of sharing the resources.

The meeting was chaired by area DC Pantalomeo Mwamachi and attended by local MP Linah Kilimo, Knut branch secretary John Cheberi and Marakwet County Council chairman William Chesingany.

Ms Kilimo said all pertinent issues surrounding the project should be solved to avert future misunderstandings between the groups.

Mr Chesingany said the community was unhappy with the conflicts pitting Eldoret Water and Sanitation Company against Marakwet County Council over the ownership of Chebara dam.

Kenya Red Cross assistant secretary general, Rift Valley region, Patrick Nyongesa, said the multi-million irrigation project involves provision of piped water to irrigate 1,000 acres of land bordering the two communities.He disclosed that there would be by-laws in the agreement on the management of water pipeline such as breakages and conservation of the river upstream.

The two communities, he said, would co-own the initiative on equal basis, adding that the water from Embobut river would sustain farming activities in the area.

Mr Nyongesa said a 15-member committee has been constituted to solve emerging issues once the society hands over the project.

The project that was initiated four months ago is meant to enhance peace between the two groups that have had conflicts over resources for many years.

The Kenyans for Kenya initiative is ending and funds secured from other development partners would be used to sustain the project. The society would in future expand the project through diversification of agricultural activities in the drought-hit district.