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CDICC to address the Sabor-Iten-Tambach water project

The  Elgeyo Marakwet  County Development Implementation Coordination Committee will convene a meeting of all stakeholders  in  the  water  sector  to  address  the challenges facing the Sh.1.9 billion Sabor-Iten- Tambach  water project.

The   meeting  Chaired by the County Commissioner (CC), Dr. Ahmed Omar resolved it was important that the problem involving the intake is addressed now as it risks  rendering the project a white elephant.

The  Presidential Delivery Unit Director, Duncan Mwariri  said a meeting will be convened consisting of officials from the  National Irrigation Board (NIB), Water  Resources Management Authority (WARMA), National Environment Management  Authority (NEMA) Rift Valley Water Works Development Agency (RVWWDA) and the Kenya Forest Services (KFS).

Members  said  though  the completion of the project funded by the Belgian government through the Kenya government  was important, it was even more important to ensure it serves its purpose which is providing water to 64,000 residents  of Iten, Tambach towns and environs.

According  to the County Conservator,  Anthony  Musyoka, there were two community projects and the Lower Sabor Irrigation  project all of which abstracted water from river  Charama which supplies water to the Sabor Iten Tambach water  project.

This, he  said  had affected the flow of water to the multi billion project and if not addressed then the billions invested may go to waste.

Lucy  Mburu  from  RVWWDA  said the first phase which consisted the construction of the intake and treatment plant cost sh.1.5 billion while phase two consisting the laying of the pipes and purchase of 3,000 consumer metres cost sh.300 million.

Mrs. Mburu  added  that NIB which is implementing the Lower  Sabor irrigation project had pledged to construct a dam  from  where they  will get a pipe to boost the flow to  the water project.

Joshua  Kibet  from Iten Water Services Company  said they are currently laying a pipe from a nearby spring to get water  to  the  Sabor-Iten-Tambach  water project which  runs dry especially during dry seasons.

He  said  the company had written to Nema to address the issue of abstraction upstream, saying during dry seasons they  are  forced to ration water to the residents as there was no flow to the weir.

By  Alice  Wanjiru

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