Water CS Samson Chelugui, Devolution CS Eugene Wamalwa and other
officials at Baricho Water stand on one of the 11 boreholes that were
destroyed by floods from River Sabaki. PHOTO| CHARLES LWANGA| NMG
Summary
- The monies will be used in the overall basin planning and management.
- The Athi Basin is one of the targeted regions, with more than 10 million people depending on it for water.
- Others are Lake Victoria, South and North Rift valley, Ewaso Ngiro North and Tana basins.
Kenya has received $25.8 million (Sh2.6 billion) financing from
World Bank's International Development Agency to boost water and
irrigation projects.
The grant to the Water and
Sanitation ministry will address water security challenges in the
country, through the Kenya Water Security and Climate Resilience Project
(KWSCRP).
Targeted regions
The
monies will be used in the overall basin planning and management. The
Athi Basin is one of the targeted regions, with more than 10 million
people depending on it for water.
Others are Lake Victoria, South and North Rift valley, Ewaso Ngiro North and Tana basins.
Speaking
in Machakos after launching the first Athi Basin planning workshop,
Water and Sanitation Secretary Simon Chelugui said government has put in
place proper water resources management plans for the basin.
“Many
developments are being planned in Athi Basin including new dams,
hydropower projects, large scale irrigation schemes, Konza Techno-City
development as well as investments under the Kenya Climate Smart
Agriculture project.” said Mr Chelugui.
He said water
security and basin management are part of a larger government strategy
to construct at least 57 mega dams such as the Thwake Multipurpose Dam
in Makueni County.
Rationing
Mr
Chelugui said Nairobi City residents would continue grappling with
water shortages due to Ndakaini Dam low water levels, caused by
degradation of catchment areas.
“The rationing of water
in Nairobi will have to continue but we are trying to make it fair as
we develop these new additional structures.
"Possibly in three years, we will be able to arrest the challenge up to 80 per cent and 100 per cent by the year 2030," he said.
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