News Categories: Lands, Water, Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change

Committee members from different water projects in Tindiret Sub County have received a Semi-Autonomous Government Agencies  (SAGAs) training.

Key areas covered include legal frameworks, financial procedures at SAGAs level, procurement process, cost-effective approach, supervision, monitoring and evaluation of the projects, project closure and audit of project expenditure.

Among the Committees trained include Kabunyeria, Tulwapmoi, Chemamul, Chepkoson and Cheptonon Secondary School water projects.

This program will enable the County Government of Nandi  through the Department of Lands, Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change to transfer monies as grants for programmes and projects . This could otherwise be the direct responsibility of the County Government.

CECM  Stanley Baliach said that the committee will ensure that projects are implemented rapidly, hence leading to more and faster absorption of development money.

“The department has adopted this approach as it will make the communities own the projects. The absorption of development funds will improve through faster development at the grassroots hence devolution will be felt at the ward level,” Baliach said.

In to order to be close to citizens it is important to engage them in services that benefits them in their daily lives and in doing so the county government through department of Lands ,Water and Natural Resources came up with framework of ensuring that citizens own the water projects in their areas.

The team from the department lead by HR Kerich and Tindiret Sub- County Administrator Mr Talam visited Tindiret Ward where they supervised the election of committee members for Tulwomoi, Sigowet and Chemamul Water Projects.

The committee members comprises of Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, PWD’s rep Youth rep and one Member.

Present also were Tindiret MCA Hon Kipkurui Chepkwony and County and Sub- County Water Oficcers.

In order to encourage the community to own the projects done by the County Government it is important to involve them at all stages.

County Government of Nandi, through The Department of Lands, Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change has seen the need to transfer monies as grants to semi autonomous government agencies (Sagas) for programmes and projects which could otherwise be direct responsibility of County Government.

Currently the department is visiting 6 Sub Counties with an aim of recruiting committee members comprising of more than 9 members who shall be gazzetted by the County printer.

Supervision, Monitoring and Evaluation of the planned projects and programmes shall be done regularly by the Department.

Projects implemented under this policy shall be audited and reported on by the auditor General as provided by article 229 of the Constitution of Kenya.

The County team led by Sub County Water officers have so far visited Aldai, Tindiret and Chesumei Sub Counties.

County Water Master Plan being developed by County Government of Nandi in partnership with Water Sector Trust Fund will play a key role in provision of clean and adequate water to the community.

The plan which is being reviewed by officials and stakeholders of various water utilities across the County is reviewing a number of key areas including population of Nandi, Agricultural and Industrial activities to be undertaken, Forest cover, Management and sustainability of water projects.

A team from Kenya Water Towers is in Nandi to interact with the community who are to benefit from improved livelihoods along Kibirong and King’wal wetlands that will soon be gazzetted as water towers.

The team led by Madam Vicky, will develop a document on Community development action plan bearing in mind the views of the community, how best to improve their livelihoods, economic activities to practice for instance bee keeping, carpentry, beehives made from bamboo and tree nurseries.

Extension of restoration order on the entire riparian land will make farmers put more effort in ensuring that they cut all eucalyptus trees along riverine areas.

Speaking at Kapkoimur Primary,in Mosop Sub County, Governor Sang emphasized on the need to eradicate eucalyptus trees as they lead to loss of water in the catchment areas. “We have extended restoration order for entire riparian land in Nandi County to 28th February 2019 to allow the community plant indigenous trees as they get rid of eucalyptus”, he said.

CECM LENRCC Mr. Baliach added that the committee will ensure that the environment is well conserved and protected for generations to come

Lake Region Economic Bloc encourages utilization of resources available for betterment of the society.

The 4th LREB Summit that kicked off yesterday emphasizes on the need to spur economic growth in LREB regions by optimizing the available resources in individual counties.

Speaking during the pillar meeting on Water, Environment and Climate Change, CECM Lands, Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change Mr. Baliach emphasized on Proper planning and monitoring of activities relating to the department within the blocs.

The County Government is fully committed in ensuring that the forest cover within the county is safeguarded.

Already, the Department of Lands, Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change has signed Transition Implementation Plans that shows the devolved forestry functions.

Today, the Chief Officer LENRCC Dr. Mang’ira, Sub County administrator Mosop Mr. Chemogos and Kenya Forest Officers led by Chief Conservator Mr. Kennedy Muskiton visited Kiptangus, Kipsuswai and Kamwega areas in Nandi North forest with the aim of knowing the status of the forest.

The Kenya Water Institute in partnership with Water Sector Trust Fund conducted a one week training to members of Nandi County Water Users Association.

The objective of the training was to equip the committee members with the neccesary knowledge needed for proper implementation of water projects.

Speaking during the closing session, CECM LENRCC Mr. Baliach thanked the facilitators for the initiative to empower the community on proper managerial skills on matters relating to water projects.

Areas of discussion included operational and maintenance concepts for water and Sanitation provisions, human resource management, water supply management, tarrifs
setting, water quality Standards, meter reading
installation and servicing among others.

Proper management of Water Utilities ensures that there is adequate water for use by the community.

This is why the Water Sector Trust Fund, Swedish Government and County Government of Nandi have partnered to implement a number of Water projects across the 6 Sub Counties.

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Kimng’oror community water users association is among the group that has benefited from the partnership.

Currently, there are 104 houses that have been connected with water, with improved sanitation facilities constructed.

Already more than seven villages have benefited from the project.

CECM LENRCC Baliach thanked the Water Users Committee for the proper records management.

“What this group has shown is very impressive, I will ensure that other water utilities visit Kimng’oror to see how a community can manage a Water project to the required standards” he added.

The 6 Water Kiosks in Kimng’oror are all functional.

He also visited Cheptil Water Users Association in Kabisaga Ward where over 10 villages have benefited from the project.

The project uses water from Cheptil Dam that was constructed in 1957 by a partnership of Sweden and Netherlands.