Established in 1979 the Kerio Valley Development Authority (KVDA) had its work cut out. Poverty is severe in its area of jurisdiction, with 51 per cent of the population living below the poverty line.
Water is scarce, resulting in frequent conflict between nomadic and livestock keeping peoples; there is little food security, road networks are inadequate and the area is prone to environmental degradation.
But 31 years on, KVDA can proudly report that its work has impacted profoundly both socially and economically on the people and region in which it is situated. The Authority can confidently declare that it is on track to realise its vision, which is “to realise sustainable and equitable socioeconomic development in the region”.
What were previously regarded as closed districts have been opened up by the KVDA. For example, the 26-kilometre stretch from the main road to Lodwar, which previously took agonisingly long hours, is now covered in just minutes. and Sigot town, for example, already has Internet facilities.
KVDA’s area of jurisdiction is bounded by the drainage systems of the Turkwel and Kerio rivers, which drain into Lake Turkana and the Lakes Baringo-Bogoria drainage system, the Suguta-Lake Lokipi drainage system and the Tarach-Lotikipi drainage system.
The Turkwel Dam Conservation Project caused the Pokot to adopt fishing and this has contributed significantly to the reduction of cattle rustling. The Pokot and the Turkana have built schools which they share and this has helped bring the two communities together.
Quite apart from fishing and fish-farming (fish ponds), the Turkana now also practice bee-keeping, which economic activities have helped improve lives and livelihoods. When irrigation kicks in, the Turkana will be less nomadic and more sedentary.
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Ultimately, the Turkwel Multi-purpose (Downstream Riverine Conservation and Irrigation) project aims to enhance sustainable development, food security, flood control and hydro-power generation.
KVDA’s Italian-funded Sh980 million, 275-hectare Wei Wei Integrated Irrigation Development Project is rated by the United Nations as the greatest success of desert management. It is renowned for enhancing sustainable development, food security, flood control and is also aimed at hydro-power generation.
It has settled 275 families on 275 hectares and their annual income is estimated at Sh50 million. Their seed
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is supplied by the Kenya Seed, Western Seed and East Africa Seed companies. The third phase of the scheme, which covers 325 hectares and will settle 325 families when completed, is also funded by an Italian Government loan to the tune of Sh980 million.
Under the Economic Stimulus Programme, the 800-acre Pjokou/Sangat Project in West Pokot will settle 35 families while in Marakwet (Tot) East 250 acres will be under sprinkler irrigation. The purpose is to improve on traditional methods of irrigation.
The Arror Integrated Multi-purpose Project will bring 300 acres under sprinkler irrigation with the aim of improving livestock production (at a Livestock Multiplication Centre) through the introduction of modern livestock breeds and also improve pasture.
| In the long term, the Arror project is aimed at enhancing sustainable development, food security, flood control and power generation.
Water pans (small dams) are also a feature of KVDA’s approach to improving lives and livelihoods. The water pans are used for livestock, which has greatly improved grazing patterns and helped reduce cattle rustling and conflict between communities over water and pasture.
These water pans in Baringo, East Pokot, Marigat and Koibatek are also used as sources of water for the local people and for irrigation.
KVDA is active in honey collection and processing. The Authority’s Acacia Honey is certified by the Kenya Bureau of Standards. KVDA currently produces 20 tonnes of honey annually and intends to step up this to 360 tonnes through the Economic Stimulus package. Towards this end, the Authority is building a honey refinery in Eldoret.
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The Cherangany Hills Watershed Conservation and Rehabilitation Project, as the name suggests, aims to conserve and rehabilitate watershed conservation and sustainable natural resource development.
The foregoing explains why the Authority is convinced that its mission is apt, primed as it is to “identify, plan and co-ordinate the implementation of integrated development programmes by using available resources to improve the living standards of the people”.