Sh10.8M EU-funded water project transforms lives in Samburu and Isiolo

Residents of Samburu and Isiolo have praised the establishment of a Sh10.8 million water project by the European Union and implemented by Northern Rangelands Trust (NRT).

Located near the Isiolo-Samburu border, the borehole, complete with a solar system to pump the water to neighbouring farms, has enabled locals to grow maize, beans, potatoes, vegetables, and other crops.

Capable of releasing 18,200 litres per hour, the water project has empowered the pastoralist community to diversify into farming and in the process, improved nutrition too.       

In the recent past, members of the pastoralist community at Attan in Isiolo County fought over scarce water, pasture, and other resources.

Community leaders such as John Eshua and Joseph Lotome said to survive the adverse climate that wiped out entire herds, many residents resorted to charcoal burning while the youth engaged in cattle rustling, both criminal activities, to stay alive.

But then came the EU-funded Kenya Rangelands Ecosystem Services Productivity (RangER) in 2022, and three years down the line, peace has returned in the community and the farmlands are thriving.

“People in Attan had little food and water, and conflicts were the order of the day. Community members had their herds wiped out by drought, and what was left was lost to cattle rustlers,” Eshua said.

He said, “We are now producing enough food for our families and have stopped charcoal burning.”  

NRT CEO Tom Lalampaa and Vishal Shah, a director, said the EU-NRT partnership with Isiolo County Government in delivering the project was aimed at enhancing food security, curbing conflicts over scarce resources and promoting environmental conservation.

“Water was a big issue. This was a major priority for food security,” said Mr Lalampaa.

To underline the importance of the water project both to the EU community and local community,  nine ambassadors, led by Head of EU Delegation Henriette Geiger, visited Attan and spent time engaging beneficiaries and local leaders.

The envoys were on a trip to Isiolo, Laikipia and Samburu counties to engage stakeholders in EU’s initiatives supporting the country’s sustainable development through projects focused on climate and security, biodiversity conservation, and digital inclusion.            

“The EU has been a very strong supporter of devolution.  We want people in the counties to feel an improvement in basic service delivery,” said Ambassador Geiger.

Ambassador of Ireland, Ms Caitriona Ingoldsby, said, “We are very pleased to see the impact of EU funding. We know that water is a blessing to all of us and to the farms productivity, children’s health and for security and stability in this area.”       

Other Ambassadors present were Dr Christian Fellner (Austria), Ms Nicol Adamcová (Czech Republic), Mr Stephan Schønemann (Denmark), Pirkka Tapiola (Finland), Sebastian Groth (Germany), Arnaud Suquet (France), and Helge Flärd (Deputy Head of Mission).