The government remains committed to changing lives in West Pokot County, owing to the several ongoing development projects in the area.
The county, which forms part of the North Rift region, has benefitted from multi-million worth of investments in the water and agricultural sector, aimed at making local residents self-reliant, courtesy of the Kerio Valley Development Authority (KVDA) among other development partners.
Speaking during a development assessment tour and commissioning of water projects within the county, Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs) and Regional Development Principal Secretary Kello Harsama said that his initial encounter with the county painted a different story of fear and despondency, where huge budgets were by then being channelled towards security operations, but currently the script has changed.
Harsama recounted that while serving the county in a different capacity in the past, it was a tall order for residents to get essential government documents like Identification Cards (IDs) days back, owing to the strict vetting processes that were in force, occasioned by the complex way of life of the residents.
“Today I have come to commission water projects, although there are so many other projects worth admiration, such as tarmac roads and huge agricultural ventures. This is an indicator that the government has been working for the good of its people,” stated the PS.
He cited that for the past two years, the Kenya Kwanza government, through KVDA, had initiated a total of 32 water projects valued at Sh800 million within the county as a way of empowering the community members.
“I am here to commission several boreholes and irrigation projects. The government is very much concerned about the people in ASAL areas, since they have the potential of contributing more to the country’s development agenda. In the supplementary budget, our state department will see the approval of eight more boreholes within the county so that residents can have easy access to the essential water resource,” noted Harsama.
The PS further explained that the initiatives are part of a broader effort by the government to enhance the resilience of the county’s residents, due to the frequent challenges posed by droughts and water scarcity, which have historically hindered development in the region.
“The availability of water is a key enabler of development. With these ongoing projects, we are ensuring that communities have the resources they need to thrive, whether it is for farming, livestock, or household use,” Harsama said.
At the same time, the PS promised that the government will soon be supplying 70 generators to facilitate the pumping of water for domestic use and irrigation.
“This area of Sigor is very fertile and with the supply of water for irrigation, the region can become food-sufficient and stop relying on relief food supplies and even help feed other parts of the country,” he said.
During the tour, the PS participated in the distribution of 300 bags of maize and 260 bags of beans to cushion the residents from the excruciating pangs of hunger in the affected areas within the county.
He further announced the government’s restocking programme for the region, where over 2,700 goats will be availed to the residents, where a total of 104 households from the five constituencies are set to benefit from 5 goats each.
“The Office of the County Commissioner has been tasked with identifying the households to benefit from the government restocking programme to cushion them from the harsh realities of drought. It is unfortunate that a total of 2.5 million livestock died across 23 Asal counties during the past failed rainy seasons,” Harsama pinpointed.
The PS highlighted the importance of the Wei-Wei Irrigation Scheme in promoting agricultural practices that can help alleviate poverty and improve food security.
“In the last three years, the government has invested more than Sh1 billion in the Weiwei Irrigation Scheme, enabling 600 families to cultivate over 1,000 acres of land in order to transform the community’s approach to agriculture and provide sustainable income opportunities,” the PS reiterated.
On boosting the farmers’ morale, the PS announced the government’s decision to clear the Sh57 million debt owed by the Weiwei Irrigation Scheme farmers so that they can move out of the panic mood being occasioned by the loaning bodies.
“While leveraging on the successes of the scheme, the goal is to introduce the local community to modern farming techniques so that they can not only feed themselves but also generate income from their agricultural activities. Through this initiative, we are empowering the people of West Pokot to become self-reliant,” Harsama added.
The PS exuded confidence that the model will serve as a blueprint for other parts of the county and ASAL regions in the country.
“The success of this scheme is a clear indication that with the right resources and support, agriculture can thrive in arid and semi-arid lands. We are committed to expanding such initiatives and helping more families in West Pokot and beyond to improve their livelihoods,” Harsama said.
The PS further unveiled the government’s plans to open up farmlands along the River Turkwel, stating that the ambitious initiative aims at empowering the Pokot and Turkana communities to harness the water resources to improve livelihoods.
“The government has a clear plan to open up over 1,000 acres of farmland along the River Turkwel. This will allow the Pokot and Turkana communities to harness the river’s water to support farming activities and create a sustainable source of income,” the PS stated.
He revealed that the government’s plans for the River Turkwel agricultural projects will directly benefit over 700 community members, involving more than 2,000 people, explaining that the project aims to provide irrigation solutions along the river belt.
“Our goal is to target more than 700 community members, involving a total of over 2,000 people, to be part of the Turkwel River agricultural projects. These communities will play a crucial role in the successful implementation and long-term sustainability of the initiative,” said Harsama.
KVDA Managing Director (MD) Sammy Naporos, accompanied by Board Directors from the Kerio Valley zone, called on West Pokot residents to take advantage of the existence of a mango tree nursery at Sigor to increase their plantations for commercial purposes, owing to the presence of a mango processing firm run by the Authority (KVDA) in Elgeyo Marakwet County.
Naporos also encouraged local farmers to incorporate beekeeping into their agricultural practices following the operationalisation of a honey processing factory in the region.
“The government has supported the establishment of a honey factory through KVDA, and we are encouraging the people of West Pokot to make good use of this facility. By introducing honey production into your farms, you can diversify your sources of income,” the MD emphasised.
It was established that KVDA buys honey worth Sh50 million every month from local farmers in West Pokot, Turkana, and the larger Elgeyo Marakwet counties.
Sigor Member of Parliament (MP) Peter Lochokopong lauded the tour, saying it was a rare government show towards safeguarding the interests of the West Pokot community.
Lochokopong reiterated that the setting up of dams, among other water projects, would have a significant impact on Sigor residents and others in the surrounding areas.
“Access to clean water is one of the most vital needs for our people, and these projects will improve not only the daily lives of our residents but also enhance agricultural productivity and food security,” said the MP.
The residents, led by a section of their leaders, took the opportunity to drum support for the existence of KVDA, appealing to the national government to allow for further development in the region.
“While we are grateful for the work that KVDA has been doing, we are asking the central government to allocate more resources to KVDA so that they can continue expanding and developing projects that will directly benefit our people,” said the Sigor MP.
Lochakapong lashed at the proposal to disband the operations of Regional Development Authorities (RDAs), arguing that they have played a pivotal role in arresting cases of marginalisation in the country.
“While we appreciate the government’s development vision, we do not support the proposal to dissolve RDAs; instead, an Act of Parliament should be initiated so that we can have a unified framework that governs all authorities under one umbrella in conferment of the Constitution 2010,” suggested the MP, sentiments that were also shared by West Pokot Senator Julius Murgor.
The legislators rooted for the creation of a clear legal framework that streamlines the good work being done by the regional development authorities in their quest to spur uniform development across the country.
By Richard Muhambe
