Water tankers have been dispatched to drought-stricken parts of Rift Valley to help people and livestock survive.
The Central Rift Valley Water Works Development Agency sent tankers to parts of Narok, Turkana and Laikipia counties. The first were dispatched last Friday.
The agency set up a rapid response team to manage daily water trucking activities, repair broken boreholes and rapidly map the worst-affected areas.
Severe drought ravages much of the country due to the failure of the long rains expected between April and July.
President Uhuru Kenyatta declared drought a national disaster last month.
While flagging off the trucks in Nakuru, the Rift water agency acting CEO Samuel Oruma said his officers have already identified drought hotspots that need water.
Acquisition of plastic storage tanks is underway.
"It is our responsibility to ensure storage tanks are filled with water daily without any cost to the users," Oruma said.
Oruma said the agency is working closely with national government administrative officers to reach the neediest areas.
“The agency will work closely with county water companies by ensuring trucks donated to them by the agency are in good condition," he said.
In Baringo, the Molok, Kiskis, Chemutung, Tinamoi and Chepnyorkin public schools are among the worst hit. They were among the first beneficiaries in water distribution.
Hundreds of pupils are unlikely to resume learning this week in regions ravaged by drought.
Many send their school children trekking in search of water and pasture for livestock.
The agency’s trucks already have been dispatched to Turkana, Laikipia and Narok to supply hard-hit schools.
Schools in dire need of water in Baringo North are Chepkesin, Kaborion, Kagir, Yatya, Chemoe, Ng’aratuko, Kosile, Rormoch, Tuluk, Moinonin, Kapkomon,Sibilo, Kamwetio, Chepkew, Tilingwo, Rondinin, Barketiew, Barsuswo, Loruk and Kapturo.
Others are Chepkalacha, Kositei, Katikit, Chemisik, Makany, Chesotim, Korelach, Lotita, Lodengo, Kakapul, Nasorot, Toplen, Akwichatis, Riong’o, Loiwat, Chesirimon,Toplen, Nakoko, Katagh, Krese, Sukut, Chesakam,Chemoril, Chesirimion, Donyasas and Kongor primary schools in Tiaty subcounty.
Most of the rivers in Tiaty have dried up, forcing residents to dig artesian wells to extract dirty water for household use and livestock.
(Edited by V. Graham)
