His Excellency President William Ruto on Monday, 29th July 2024, officially commissioned the Kone Water Project in Garsen West Ward, Tana River County. The project is aimed at improving water access in the area, reducing human/wildlife conflicts and enhancing overall resilience to drought.
H.E the President was received at the project site by the State Department for ASALs and Regional Development Principal Secretary Mr. Kello Harsama, NDMA Board Chairman Mr. Shallow Yahya, Board Member Mr. Gilbert Tenai and CEO Lt Col (Rtd) Hared Hassan, who took him through the project components.
Garseni West Ward is prone to drought, resulting in challenges such as access to water, food and pasture. The main livelihoods within Kone Location are pastoralism, specifically the rearing of camels, cattle, goats, sheep and donkeys.
His Excellency President William Ruto joins community members of Kone sublocation to draw water during the commissioning of the Kone Water Project on July 29, 2024. He was accompanied by Mr. Kello Harsama, Principal Secretary of the State Department for ASALs and Regional Development, and NDMA CEO Lt. Col. (Rtd) Hared Hassan, among other leaders.
Towards the continued commitment to building drought resilience and taking services closer to citizens, NDMA implemented the water project at a cost of KSh 52 million. The components include a 50,000 M3 capacity water pan serving more than 60,000 livestock and wildlife, and rehabilitation of two boreholes that serve about 3,600 people.
The project was prioritised by the local community to ensure availability of clean and safe water at household level and institutions as well as adequate water for livestock, and wildlife. A participatory disaster risk assessment conducted in 2021 by the County Government of Tana River in collaboration with development partners culminated in the development of a community action plan.
Among the interventions proposed was the establishment and rehabilitation of water sources. A subsequent rapid assessment conducted by the County Government to assess the water sources in Garseni West Ward ranked Kone Location as the most vulnerable in terms of access to water. Kone Water Pan, which serves livestock and wildlife, had silted and dried up, leading to high cases of human-wildlife conflict. The assessment recommended, among others, the desilting and expansion of Kone Water Pan, rehabilitation of the local boreholes and capacity building of water committees.
H.E the President also presented a cheque of KSh 239,014,800 for 2024/2025 financial year stipends for 7,377 Hunger Safety Net Programme (HSNP) regular cash transfer beneficiaries in Tana River County. The Government provides unconditional cash transfers under HSNP, which is implemented by NDMA, to cushion 133,800 poor households in Turkana, Marsabit, Wajir, Mandera, Garissa, Isiolo, Samburu and Tana River counties.
Following the President’s directive and as part of the Government’s commitment to prioritising consumption support to very vulnerable households as part of social protection, HSNP cash transfers are now disbursed on time.
President William Ruto presents a cheque of KSh 239,014,800 to 7,377 Hunger Safety Net Programme (HSNP) regular cash transfer beneficiaries in Tana River County