KAKAMEGA COUNTY. County governments have been urged to create a kitty through which funds shall be allocated towards conservation of water towers found within their counties, especially Bungoma and Trans Nzoia counties, which house two of the five water towers found in the country.
Speaking to the Weekly Western Chronicle during his retirement ceremony at his home in Ishisiru village in Lurambi constituency’ the outgoing director of Kenya Water Towers in the department of coordination and governance Maurice Barasa Otunga said that it is important for county governments to contribute towards the conservation of the towers to avoid drought that can come up due to destruction of such important areas.
“The challenge that I want to give the county governments is to ensure that during their budgeting process they set aside special funds to take care of the water towers found in their counties because they also have a big role in conserving the towers,” said Barasa.
He noted that Narok County government is already doing a lot in allocating funds towards conserving the Mau Forest that is one of the five water towers in the country hence other counties that harbour the towers should also follow suit.
Barasa added that Trans Nzoia County, which is the home of two water towers of Mt. Elgon and Cherangany Hills, is already benefiting from a big project funded by the European Union to fund projects aimed at conserving Mt. Elgon water tower.
The director pointed out that there is a lot to be done by different players and stakeholders in conserving water towers in the country that include Mau forest, Aberdares, Mt Kenya, Mt Elgon and Cherangany that still face destruction.
“I know there is a lot of work to be done in conserving our water towers especially in Cherangany that is still facing a lot of destruction and Mt Elgon though not much but through the coordination and governance of the Kenya Water Towers we should all come together to rescue our towers from destruction,” added Barasa.
At the same time, Barasa called upon communities living around the water towers to be in the forefront to conserve the towers noting that if the destruction is left to continue then in the next few years the residents shall be walking for very long distances in search of water.
The ceremony was also attended by Kenyan ambassador to Uganda Major General Geoffrey Okanga who also urged Kenyans to do business in Uganda and expand their income and utilize the cross-border business activities embraced under the East African Community–EAC.
Okanga further urged Kenyans to embrace peace and unity ahead of the next year’s general elections by emulating the Ugandan way, where the polls ended peacefully despite the tight campaigns between the major contenders, especially for the presidential seat.
