The Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Irrigation Mwangi Kiunjuri has said that his Ministry will work with the County governments to reconstruct dams and other water reservoirs before the onset the delayed long rains.
Kiunjuri was speaking in Nyandarua county when he commissioned the Gwa Kungu and Kwa Museveni dams in Ol-Joro Orok and Ndaragwa Constituencies. He asked the county governments to create Water Users Associations saying they are essential in realisation of water and food security.
He also urged the residents to embrace irrigation and stop depending on rain-fed agriculture solemnly which sometimes its unreliable.
The Nyandarua Governor Francis Kimemia lauded the National government for such commitments and promised that his administration will partner in the renovation of 220 dams and 79 water pans across the county.
Kimemia also asked the Cabinet Secretary to fast-track the gazettement of the potato-packaging policies in order to protect farmers from being exploited by unscrupulous middlemen.
Nyandarua County Commissioner, Boaz Cherutich asked water inspectors from WARMA to protect Kinungu river in the Aberdare ranges. He said the government will take strong action against the farmers who have been using river water to irrigate their farms in Kipipiri Sub-county without the permission from the Water Resources Management Authority (WARMA).
Cherutich asserted the illegal diversion of water from the river could waste the 24 million shillings government funded project.
Cherutich issued the directive when he led the Nyandarua County Development Implementation and Coordination Committee members to inspect development projects in Kipipiri Sub County.
The gravity sprinkler irrigation scheme which was officiated two years ago has seen over 120 families benefit immensely where they cultivate and sell horticultural products from the irrigation project.
