EU gives El-Molo access to clean water

Last Updated 15 years ago by Kenya Engineer

The European Union has put up a Sh18 million water project for the endangered E-Molo community in the newly created Lonyangalani district, in Marsabit. The 1000-member community has been using saline waters of Lake Turkana, which has exposed them to water-borne diseases as well as bone and teeth deformation.

Commissioning the project early October the EU head of delegation in Kenya Eric van der Linden said the money was channeled through the Community Development Trust Fund (CDTF) a joint venture between the Government and the European Commission. The fund contributes towards poverty reduction in Kenya by supporting over 200 community projects.

The EU boss who opened the project at  Loyani  and Komote site  in the El-Molo Bay said the project funding complements the Commission‘s declared objective of supporting Kenya’s Millennium Development Goals   part of which is to boost  water, health, agricultural  and Governance projects, among others countrywide.

Linden said that with the enactment of the new constitution  the citizens have the right to social-economic services like water  and  urged MPs to hasten its implementation.

He that the EU would continue funding  more people-friendly projects  and is optimistic that the completion  of this project will protect the 1,000 members of the El-Molo community from water-borne diseases, bone and teeth deformation and general ill health caused by the consumption of the highly saline water from Lake Turkana.

Lasamis MP Joseph Lekuton said the UE funding filled the financial gap , after the collapse of the pipeline project in 2007, which was being funded by the National Water Conservation and Pipeline Corporation. He reckons that close to Sh10 million went to waste  after the Corporation abandoned the project. He said CTDF intervention  in 2008 led to the construction of a different intake pipe, rehabilitation of the abandoned National Water Conservation and Pipeline Corporation facilities and    the construction of standard communal water points.

CDTF Programmes Co-ordinator Njoka Miu, said the project would contribute to improved livelihoods  of the Desamatch and El-Molo minority groups  in Marsabit District  through increased access to education, clean water  and sanitation.

The water project is located in the El-Molo Bay, 300 kilometres north of Lamamis town  and 400 kilometres north of Isiolo town. It lies on the shores of Lake Turkana  on the Eastern part of Marsabit. The area faces many challenges such as the rough terrain of the rocky soils, a scorching sun,  lack of education facilities, waterborne diseases  and other development challenges.