Laikipia gets borehole drilling equipment to address water shortage

Laikipia County Government has benefitted from borehole drilling machines aimed at addressing water crises in the county.

Laikipia governor Joshua Irungu said they had partnered with Ewaso Ng’iro North Development Authority to construct boreholes which would benefit farmers through irrigation and boost food security.

He was speaking in Isiolo on Thursday.

The governor revealed the machines which included tippers, caterpillars, water bowsers and water drilling trucks had minor mechanical problems.

He said his administration would set aside some funds from a supplementary budget to repair them and kick off water drilling next month.

“We have settled on an agreement to put aside some finances to repair some machines that have been lying here because of minor mechanical issues,” Irungu said.

The governor said during the rainy season, a lot of water that needed to be harvested was lost.

Irungu said the machines would be used to construct dams for livestock use, hospitals, schools and community conservancies to bolster the tourism sector in  Laikipia.

“In partnership with ENNDA, we can do major projects and address the problem of water harvesting and irrigation.

"When we put our resources together, we can be able to achieve more,” Irungu said.

ENNDA managing director Ali Ibrahim Hassan said the water drilling machines would go a long way in improving water infrastructure in Arid and Semi-Arid Areas.

“We have had the discussion on how we can collaborate and improve the water infrastructure in Laikipia using this equipment,” Hassan said.

He extended an olive branch to other ASAL counties in the Northern region to join hands aimed at mitigating water shortage.