There is a need for the County government to work closely with the Kenya Development Response to Displacement Impacts Project (KDRDIP) to ensure its total success so that residents can reap the fruits.
This was said by Dr. Idriss Dokota, the PS State Department for ASAL and Regional Development during a courtesy visit to Garissa County Secretary Mohamud Mursal at the County Headquarters.
He is in Garissa to inspect and commission various projects being undertaken by (KDRDIP).
The multi-billion project that is anchored on changing the lives and livelihoods of communities by providing entrepreneurship money, improving health, education and drilling boreholes which cover Garissa, Wajir and Turkana counties has faced headwinds in the past.
Then county government under the leadership of then-Governor Ali Korane withdrew itself from the project accusing the project implementers of sidelining them.
So bad was the situation that the county government wrote letters to both the World Bank and the National Treasury requesting that the projects be stopped until the issues raised were amicably solved.
The situation was no different with some community members in some parts moving to court to have the projects stopped citing favoritism in the awarding of contracts and project allocations.
Things have however changed since Governor Nathif Jama took over office.
In June he held a meeting with senior officials from KDRDIP. In the meeting both parties agreed to harmoniously work together so that residents can benefit.
The PS welcomed the synergy and the political willingness exhibited by the county saying that the main aim of the projects was to change residents' lives.
“It must be noted that Garissa County is the biggest beneficiary with Sh 1.5 Billion being earmarked for projects in the county. This is real money that is going into real projects. Squabbles and misunderstanding will however jeopardize the project and that is not what we want to see,” he said.
On his part, the County secretary said that the Governor Jama-led administration would continue to collaborate with the project to ensure the transformation of the lives of residents in rural communities.
He said the County would continue to play a key role in pacifying any issues arising between the project and the community.
“The benefits of these projects to the community are well documented. World Bank has our total support because what they are doing is exactly what the county is doing which is to have a direct and positive impact on the lives of people at the grassroots,” he said.
During the three-day visit, the PS will Commission the Alango Arba Water Project, Commission Haji Aden Water Project, Commission Afweine Primary Project, Lay the foundation for the construction of the Afweine Secondary School, laboratory and dining hall and Commission the Barsaben Water Project.
Over the last 30 years, the communities have hosted the refugees by providing a haven.
However, this has left devastating effects on the environment, economy and social well-being of the hosts.