By Betty Luke
Ten community groups from Sericho and Cherab wards in Isiolo County have received Sh5.5 million grants for cushioning local population against loss and damages occasioned by recent El-Nino rains.
The funding, under the Collaborative action to address the losses and damage experienced by the most vulnerable communities in Kenya project, aims to help the groups rehabilitate different sanitation facilities that were damaged by the heavy rains.
The grant from the Scottish Government through Oxfam and the Asal Humanitarian Network (AHN) and being implemented by the Merti Integrated Development Program (MID-P) will see the rehabilitation of latrines in schools and local dispensaries, construction of new latrines and repair of damaged water pipes.
Some of the beneficiaries will engage in constructing houses for 10 families whose homes were swept away by the heavy rains.
MID-P senior program officer Jacob Waqo said the funds will also support rehabilitation of damaged water infrastructure and extension of piping in Kinna and Merti areas.
“We aim to achieve better sanitation and a society free of diseases,” Mr Waqo said, adding that the organisation will seek extra funding to extend the pilot programme to other wards.
Chief Officer for Donor Coordination Adan Hassan Tupi lauded the project and urged other partners to adopt similar mechanisms to help residents overcome damages occasioned by the floods.
He reiterated the county government’s commitment to provide an enabling environment to development partners wishing to offer any form of humanitarian assistance to the affected residents.
Cherab MCA Halima Abgudo said the program was timely as hundreds of residents were struggling with lack of proper sanitation as a result of the heavy rains which destroyed water and sanitation infrastructure.
“Many humanitarian organizations do not support sanitation programs which puts the pastoral communities at risk of contracting diseases. Very few residents have toilets at their homes, I, therefore, appeal to other partners to chip in and help the communities,” Ms Abgudo appealed.
Also in attendance was MID-P Executive Director Molu Tepo who said the organisation was keen on ensuring improved livelihoods for Isiolo residents through various programmes.
