Government unveils ambitious development programme for counties of northen Kenya
SEBASTIAN MIRITI- KNA
The Government is implementing a major development program in the counties of Marsabit and Turkana, with the aim of transforming lives and accelerating growth in this poverty-stricken region.
The six-year Drought Resilience Program in Northern Kenya (DRPNK), which is being funded by the government with support from the Federal Republic of Germany at a cost of Sh2.625 billion, kicked off in mid-2019.
The program, which is scheduled to end in December 2025, is expected to lay a firm foundation for transforming the lives of over 595,000 people in the two counties.
Speaking at Dambala-Fachana in Sololo SubCounty during the launch of the program, the Principal Secretary for Irrigation, Ephantus Kimotho, said the project aims to support local communities suffering from the persistent drought challenges, which have been aggravated by climate change.
The comprehensive initiative, Kimotho said, includes measures for water harvesting and storage, irrigation, animal health, range management, health services in schools, fodder production, and general infrastructure improvement.
In Marsabit County alone, the Principal Secretary said the expected outcomes are notable, with about 255,000 people set to benefit, 5,000 acres of rangeland to be rehabilitated and 10,000 direct and indirect jobs to be generated especially for the youth.
He emphasized the collaborative efforts between the national and county government towards the success of the project which is expected to drive sustainable development in the region.
The launch of the programme which was also graced by Marsabit Governor Mohamud Ali and the Principal Secretary for ASALs Kello Harsama has an objective of boosting food security through irrigation farming where water pans, dams and boreholes are developed to provide water for crops and feedlot systems.
The PS further underlined the need for teamwork across various agencies that include the State Department for ASALs, the National Treasury and Planning and the county government to achieve the much-anticipated drought resilience among the local communities.
“This project is aimed at enhancing drought resilience and climate change adaptation in ASAL areas which I can assure that the government has committed to achieve” the PS noted.
CPA Kimotho also led the team on an inspection tour of Kukub Water Pan rehabilitation by the National Irrigation Authority at a cost of Sh45 million where he underscored the potential of the project in putting up to 500,000 acres under irrigation agriculture.
“The government is cognizant of the importance of this project and the programme as a whole in speeding up of the intended development to the benefit of Marsabit residents and I would urge the county government to also release their share of funds for timely progress” he said.
The poverty rates in the targeted counties is alarmingly high at 92 percent and 80 per cent in Turkana and Marsabit respectively. Kimotho said that the government is keen at strengthening the adaptive capacities of the pastoral and agro-pastoral production systems through expansion and rehabilitation of relevant infrastructure for sustainability.
In his remarks, Governor Ali said the programme is appropriate for the region as it would assist in finding a solution to the water shortage problem and enhancing food production in the county which has been allocated Sh1 billion.
Governor Ali said the water harnessing initiatives would strengthen the agricultural potential hence enhancing food security which has eluded the region for a long time.
The governor urged locals to continue diversifying the economic activities by embracing crop farming and especially now that an opportunity to practice irrigation was being offered to make themselves self –sufficient in food and raise surplus for income generation.
“I am optimistic that this project is going to succeed,” he said and called for its fast implementation through observance of timelines to realize the desired benefits.