Garissa: The Coast Development Authority (CDA) has launched the construction of three water pans, valued at Sh90 million, to address persistent water scarcity in Fafi Constituency, Garissa County. The vagaries of climate change have affected both humans and livestock in equal measure, and the construction of the three water pans in Kaltum, Gure, and Hiribei in the vast constituency is a timely intervention.
According to Kenya News Agency, Kaltum and Gure water pans, each costing Sh20 million, will be a big relief to the residents who usually trek for kilometres in pursuit of water. Kaltum and Gure have a capacity of 20,000 cubic meters, while Hiribae, costing Sh50 million, has a capacity of 80,000 cubic meters. Speaking during the handover of the water pan sites to the constructors, CDA Chairman Mzee Mwinyi said they have initiated several impactful projects under the drought mitigation scheme in the constituency, and by the end of the year, a total of eight projects will have been rolled out.
The Chairman noted that Fafi is one of the largest constituencies in the country, and CDA had in the past constructed a Sh142 million mega earth fill dam at Galma Gala that has spurred economic development, and talks are ongoing to elevate the area to a Sub-County. 'That tells the impact of having these water projects in these areas. This is a very arid area; it is evident you can see it, and water is something that is needed in this area,' said the Chairman, extolling the Head of State for allocating funds for the projects.
The Chairman also called for more political support for more projects to be initiated in the sparsely populated expansive sub-county. 'We need more resources, more funding, so that we can have more projects for the benefit of the livestock and for the people to get clean water for their domestic use,' stated the Chairman, affirming CDA's commitment to improving the lives of the people of the Coast region and the lower part of Garissa.
CDA Acting Managing Director Dr. Mwanasiti Bendera thanked the area MP, Salah Yakub, for collaborating with the Authority by ensuring the constituents benefit from the development agenda of the government. Dr. Bendera noted that CDA has received funding for drought mitigation projects to establish nine strategic water facilities across the region. In Fafi, three water pan projects: Kaltum, Gure, and Hiribei have been handed over to constructors.
'All these water pans are to ensure that there is adequate water for the people of Fafi constituency, specifically for domestic use and livestock. Fafi is an arid area where we have water scarcity issues, and the community is pastoralist. They normally walk long distances to get water for their livestock.' The area MP, she noted, is forced to do weekly water trucking using bowsers to ensure the community gets water. 'The funding will ensure the community benefits from these projects and ensures that they have safe and potable water for use,' said the Acting Managing Director.
Fafi CDF Chairman Abdrihaman Ibrahim said the locals faced water challenges in the area, and the projects are a huge relief. He urged the Head of State to reconsider scrapping Regional Development Authorities (RDAs) as they complement the government in the implementation of the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA). 'RDAs are really doing immense work at the grassroots level, and this is what BETA was. We voted for this government because of BETA, and this is what CDA is doing. We are telling H.E. President William Samoei Ruto to reconsider and instead restructure those RDAs,' said Ibrahim.