Residents of Narok East Constituency in Narok County have a reason to say goodbye to the long struggles of walking for long distances in search of water after the former Principal Secretary Ministry of Devolutoin and Planning Hon. Saitoti Ole Torome launched two major water projects in the area.
Accompanied by Managing Director Ewaso Nyiro South Development Authority ENSDA Sammy Naporos, the CEO Geothermal Development Company (GDC) Engineer Johnson Ole Nchoe), the area MP Ken Aramat among other leaders, the PS commissioned the operation of Oltepesi Lolaimutiai borehole. Ole Torome said being a resident of the area he understand the agony of community members during drought and famine seasons. He admitted that Narok East Sub-County is a productive arable land but drought often deprives them their livestock and planted wheat, barley and maize.
The PS lauded the efforts of Jubilee government in mitigating drought and associated effects in areas susceptible to be hit by the unforgiving disaster. Ole Torome added that besides the new boreholes, the government is planning to construct a dam costing Ksh. 60M. Ole Torome says in liaison with ENSDA the State Department of Planning and Statistics will seek experts and donors overseas to steer the project successfully.
The ENSDA Managing Director Sammy Naporos reminded the citizens to plant more trees and conserve forests in order to avoid the frequent drought in most parts of Narok. He added that a quick move should be made to safeguard key water sources like Mau forest.
The outgoing PS thereafter headed to Oltepesi Lolaimutiai Primary School where he urged the Maasai Community to prioritize educating their children so that whenever any government opportunities in offices of influence arise they can compete fairly with other elites from across the country and outsmart them in securing the positions. He also didn’t hesitate to commend on the coveted Maasai culture encouraging them to hold onto it but advised them to shun archaic cultures like FGM and subjecting young girls to early marriages.
About 50 KM drive from the school the current Defense PS launched a mega water project at Mosiro Ward. The Mosiro Dam estimated to cost more than Ksh. 50M.
Residents also got food donations from GDC. The GDC CEO Engineer Johnson Ole Nchoe said they were fulfilling the corporate social responsibility during this drought period. He added that the company will continue supporting the community in times of need since the project is hosted in their land.
At Oltepesi Lolaimutiai Primary School GDC donated 200 sacks of beans and maize to wananchi and later in Mosiro it offered 100 bags of maize, 30 bags of beans and 3kg cooking oil.
Politics also took center stage with the Narok East MP Ken Aramat urging the residents to re-elect him and President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto in forthcoming August 8 general elections. Aramat says the wananchi in Narok East should appreciate Jubilee government for reviving the water projects that had stalled for ten years. Ole Nchoe also encouraged the Maasai community to fully re-elect jubilee officials citing that it is the only government since independence that has ever given Maasai educated members to lead critical government departments and parastatals.
Narok and Kajiado counties’ national government development projects are run by ENSDA under the Ministry of Devolution and Planning. Kajiado West-Magadi Area, Narok East, Narok West and Narok West Sub-Counties are often hit by serious drought. So far ENSDA say they have constructed six boreholes, three water pumps in Narok East. Distance covered by residents in accessing water has also been reduced from 5OKm to 7Km.
People hit by drought in the two counties are said to clock 300,000 of whom 2000 households are now benefiting from Drought Mitigating Program. Death of livestock has been reported in these areas to an extent of a cow costing Ksh. 2000. On this note the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) in conjunction with ENSDA haven’t approved the livestock off-take program but is supplying feeds and water to most affected livestock keepers. The Ministry through is promising to meet the needs of all the affected Kenyans in the said counties.
