NYANDARUA, Kenya, Oct 16- A whopping Sh1.2 billion has been spent in several water projects in Nyandarua County, the Government has said.
According to Water Cabinet Secretary Sicily Kariuki, the projects are meant to boost food production in the area, and more so in the wake of adverse effects of climate change in Kenya.
On September 8, 2021, President Uhuru Kenyatta declared drought in parts of Kenya a national disaster.
Crop and livestock production has been undermined by below-average rain seasons in affected areas with failures of both the 2020 short rains (Oct-Dec) and the 2021 long rains (March-May) in some counties.
“All these projects are meant to boost food production of this County,” the Cabinet Secretary said.
She was speaking in Magumu ward in Kinangop- where she commissioned yet another multi-million shillings water project.
The Upper Gitwe irrigation project has cost taxpayers Sh21.1 million. The project is set to benefit at least 700 households.
“We have already handed over 7 water projects out of the 11,” she said, adding that it was part of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Big Four Agenda, to ensure the country is food secure.
Currently, humanitarian organisations say due to the poor rainfall and low crop production, 2.1 million Kenyans are facing acute food insecurity in the next 6 months.
Other ongoing projects in the agricultural rich County, she said, include a Sh684 million sewerage project in Ol Kalou area.
The project is funded by the African Development Bank alongside the National Government.
It is due for completion in a month’s time.
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