Kenya receives Sh2.6bn World Bank grant for water projects
Water CS Samson Chelugui, Devolution CS Eugene Wamalwa and other officials at Baricho Water stand on one of the 11 boreholes that were destroyed by floods from River Sabaki. PHOTO| CHARLES LWANGA| NMG
What you need to know:
The monies will be used in the overall basin planning and management.
The Athi Basin is one of the targeted regions, with more than 10 million people depending on it for water.
Others are Lake Victoria, South and North Rift valley, Ewaso Ngiro North and Tana basins.
Kenya has received $25.8 million (Sh2.6 billion) financing from World Bank's International Development Agency to boost water and irrigation projects.
The grant to the Water and Sanitation ministry will address water security challenges in the country, through the Kenya Water Security and Climate Resilience Project (KWSCRP).
The monies will be used in the overall basin planning and management. The Athi Basin is one of the targeted regions, with more than 10 million people depending on it for water.
Others are Lake Victoria, South and North Rift valley, Ewaso Ngiro North and Tana basins.
Speaking in Machakos after launching the first Athi Basin planning workshop, Water and Sanitation Secretary Simon Chelugui said government has put in place proper water resources management plans for the basin.
“Many developments are being planned in Athi Basin including new dams, hydropower projects, large scale irrigation schemes, Konza Techno-City development as well as investments under the Kenya Climate Smart Agriculture project.” said Mr Chelugui.
He said water security and basin management are part of a larger government strategy to construct at least 57 mega dams such as the Thwake Multipurpose Dam in Makueni County.
Rationing
Mr Chelugui said Nairobi City residents would continue grappling with water shortages due to Ndakaini Dam low water levels, caused by degradation of catchment areas.
“The rationing of water in Nairobi will have to continue but we are trying to make it fair as we develop these new additional structures.
"Possibly in three years, we will be able to arrest the challenge up to 80 per cent and 100 per cent by the year 2030," he said.
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