Mobilising $82.36 million. This is the ambition of the Kenyan government. According to President William Ruto, the funding mobilised from development partners will enable the continuation of projects aimed at mitigating the effects of the drought in the East African country. The drought is increasing water stress, decreasing pasture and reducing agricultural production. To alleviate the impact of the drought on more than 4 million Kenyans and thus reduce food insecurity in the country, the government has developed a strategy.
This includes supporting the Kenya Livestock Procurement Programme. Kenyan President William Ruto explains that $1.65 million of the $82.36 million to be raised will be allocated to the Kenya Wildlife Service to undertake water trucking for wildlife in national parks and reserves across the country.
The government is also banking on the construction of dams for drinking water supply and irrigation. The new dams will support existing dams in the East African country, including the Thiba Dam, which will open in October 2022. The dam provides water to 5,000 farming households for the irrigation of crops such as rice, maize and vegetables.
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Two months earlier, in August 2022, the Karimenu II dam was commissioned in Kenya. The 26.5 million m3 of raw water stored in the building is treated in a new plant with a capacity of 70,000 m3 per day. The drinking water is distributed via 67 km of pipes that serve 1 million people in Gatundu North, Kiambu County.
Inès Magoum