Blue Economy, Water and Irrigation Committee Inspects Stalled Itare Dam
The National Assembly Committee on Blue Economy, Water and Irrigation conducted a fact-finding tour of the stalled Itare multi-million water dam project in Kuresoi North Constituency, Nakuru County.
The Hon. Kagongo Bowen-led Committee inspected the project, one of the massive water projects in the county, that stalled several years ago and rooted for its revival.
The Committee was told that the project that was to supply water to the entire County was to cost Kshs.28 billion and stalled after consuming Kshs.11 billion.
Hon. Bowen assured residents of the County that the government was committed to reviving the project to deal with the acute water shortage they faced.
“We have come here as a Committee for a fact-finding mission but also express the government’s commitment to revive the project,” said Hon. Bowen.
He added: “In the next three months you will see construction works on the project resume”.
He added that the Committee was satisfied with the work that had been done on the project before it stalled.
“We have seen the contractor had mobilised adequate machinery that lies idle on site. The contractor can complete the project and has the government’s support,” he added.
Hon. Bowen assured that adequate measures have been put in place to ensure smooth implementation of the project.
The Chairperson noted that the Committee will consider increasing the money allocated to the project to ensure that it’s completed without hitches like the ones experienced before.
“We will consider increasing funds allocated to the project to Kshs.40 billion to be able to fund the re-designed contract to cater for the needs of residents living around the project,” he added.
He noted that the Italian government has agreed to resume funding of the project after President Dr William Ruto’s intervention.
Area MP Hon. Mutai and County MP Hon. Chelule welcomed plans to revive the project and called for adequate funding to ensure its completion.
Hon. Mutai and Hon. Chelule asked the contractor to compensate residents whose crops had been destroyed.
Njoro MP Hon. Charity Kathambi Chepkwony said the region has been facing perennial water shortage challenges adding that the project was the only solution to their water woes.
“Many people have believed that Nakuru town and constituencies in the County do not face water shortage problems. It’s good that the visit by the Committee has confirmed how people suffer due to acute water shortage,” she added.
Earlier the Committee paid a courtesy call on Nakuru Deputy Governor H.E Kones in his office.
The DG told the Committee that despite the County being surrounded by six lakes they faced serious water shortage challenges because lake waters were salty and not good for human consumption. He welcomed the revival of the project.
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