A contingent of staff to oversee the management of water provision will be deployed to Lokichoggio, one of the four new sub-counties recently created in Turkana.

County executive committee member for Water Services Faith Aletea said in Lokichoggio during the Water Stakeholders Forum that brought together officials of the Ministry and WASH partners operating in the Sub County.

‘In order to domicile service provision without having to depend on Turkana West, a contingent of staff will be deployed to this sub-county (Lokichoggio),’ Aletea said.

Before Lokichoggio was hived off from the larger Turkana West and uplifted to a sub-county of its own, the area depended on water staff stationed at Kakuma.

Aletea also said that the Water Department was working towards the revival of the area’s water service provider for the benefit of residents of Lokichoggio town, and she urged WASH partners to support the initiative.

The county executive said that the ongoing restructuring of water services provision through the
introduction of rural and urban companies would benefit Lokichoggio as competent staff will be recruited to ensure optimal functionality of all the water infrastructures for the direct benefit of humans, livestock, and agricultural production.

‘We are certain that Lokichoggio town will fall under the jurisdiction of Urban Areas Water Company; in preparation for the same, we are also going to deploy a team leader and staff to Lokiwasco in readiness for the shift,’ he said.

While appreciating the immense support of partners towards the improvement of access to water, Aletea noted that more was required to make Lokichoggio water secure with clean and safe water for multiple uses.

Other present included the Chief Officer, Water Services David Maraka, Director of Water Services Paul Lotum, and Lokichoggio Sub County Administrator Obed Echip who also addressed the gathering.

Source: Kenya News Agency