World Bank puts up 20 sand dams in Kitui to improve water access

World Bank has funded the building of 20 sand dams to the tune of Sh30 million to guarantee water access to communities in Kitui County.

This is a bid to mitigate climate change.

On Thursday, Kitui County chief officer in charge of climate change David Soi handed over the last two sand dam sites in Ngomeni and Tharaka wards to contractors.

Soi, accompanied by his boda boda and transport colleague, Peter Musya, said work will begin immediately.

He said the 20 sand dam projects were jointly financed by the County government of Kitui and the World Banks, with the latter being the principal sponsor. He said the cumulative cost was Sh. 30 million.

Soi disclosed that since the dams were a measure to mitigate climate change, they were being carried out under the Financing Locally-Led Climate Action initiative in which beneficiary communities have a big say.

“All the sand dams were identified in the 20 wards as a priority need under their respective climate change action teams through public participation. FLLOCA is community-driven,” he said.

He said building sand dams across sandy seasonal rivers leads to a build-up of more sand that acts as a reservoir to trap and store water whenever it rains enabling communities to access water for domestic use and their livestock.

“The sand dams restore the environment. Generally, the river ecosystem changes for the better. It will be greener, more vegetation sprouts out and the area turns green improving the biodiversity,” said Soi.

Saying that sand dams also lead to the natural wildlife habitat, the chief officer added that water will also be accessible to people living downstream as the river ecosystem is reclaimed and rejuvenated.

The MCA for Ngomeni, Nzungi Ngwele, who graced the handing over of the site in his ward said the project at Kavaani seasonal river will benefit the locals a lot as they walk 7 kilometres to the nearest water source.

“People from this area trudge seven kilometres to the Kasiluni wetland where water is available. Once this sand dam is completed and traps water, it will be a big relief to area electorate,” said Ngwele.

The MCA said sand dams that create natural water storage in the sand were the surest way to ensure water access for most of the water-stressed areas in Kitui throughout the year.

He pledged to lobby fellow MCAs in the Kitui County Assembly for more allocation towards the construction of sand dams.

“In the past, we have allocated a lot of money towards ECDE classrooms. It is time we re-directed the funds to sand dams,” added Ngwele.

He said climate change has a devastating impact on humanity adding that it was the responsibility of all and sundry to seek homegrown ways to mitigate the effects as it has become a serious threat.

“It is time we embraced progressive land use by conserving our land and environment. We must stop the destruction of forests for charcoal burning. Shifting cultivation that involves clearing vegetation should be discouraged,” he cautioned.