Laikipia Governor Ndiritu Muriithi has pledged to implement the Sh117 billion water master plan if re-elected.
The plan unveiled last year is expected to meet the county’s water needs for the next two decades and ensure all residents have access to clean water.
Muriithi, who was speaking to elders from Laikipia West in a Nyahururu hotel, said his administration plans to desilt 231 dams, build five mega dams and drill 113 boreholes in the next five years.
“Our goal is to put 50,000 acres under irrigation to increase food and fodder production. This way, 40,000 more household will also have access to water,” he said.
The county’s road construction brigades established under the county’s equipment leasing programme, he said, will also be involved in excavating and desilting of dams and water pans.
The mega dams targeted under the master plan are Nanyuki (Kahurura) Bulk water project, Pesi Dam, Rumuruti Dam, Amaya Dam, and Crocodile Jaw Dam.
The Laikipia government has advertised tenders for construction of Ilpolei dam and desilting of Wangwachi dams which are financed through an infrastructure bond issue.
Muriithi expressed optimism of rolling out the water master plan if re-elected, citing the success of Solio Community water project, Makurian-Chumvi-Makurian water project and Kinamba water project,
Already, over 1,700 out of the targeted 2,000 Solio households are connected with water from the project while Makurian –Osirua is targeting another 1,700.
Out of the total of 103,114 Laikipia households, only 30,562, which is about 30 per cent, have access to piped water.
About 67,300 (65 per cent) others have access to portable water either from piped systems, dams, pans, springs, boreholes, shallow wells and rivers.
There are 507 small water projects and 10 community irrigation schemes in the southern and western parts established through National government and development partner’s support.
(Edited by V. Graham)
