Garissa Township MP Dekow Mohamed with Kenya's project coordinator for Mountain Of Mercy Shinaz Abdiwahid during the launch of Water Borehole in Sankuri's Aragadud village in Garissa. [Abdimalik Hajir, Standard]
The residents of Aragadud in Sankuri ward, Garissa County were filled with joy after the sinking of a borehole in drought hit area.
Speaking after launching the project, Mountain of Mercy's Kenya's project coordinator, Shinaz Abdiwahid, emphasized the importance of collaboration among donors to support programs that can make a positive impact on people's lives.
Together with Garissa Township's Member of Parliament, Dekow Mohamed, Shinaz highlighted that their charity organization has been consistently providing water to families affected by drought in the county through water tracking.
They urged other stakeholders not to wait for large amounts of funds to be raised, but instead to make small but impactful donations.
Amid a devastating drought that has affected millions of Kenyans, particularly in the Northern region, where pastoralists have lost a significant number of livestock, the implementation of the six million projects has come at a critical time.
Officials have reported that after assessing the needs of the local communities in the area, the project took approximately one month to complete.
As a result, locals who used to have to travel long distances on foot to access water are now experiencing much-needed relief.
"We have done other projects in other parts of the world but this is the first one in Kenya, we are hoping to construct clinics for the women, Madrasa and other projects," she said.
According to her, access to water is a fundamental human necessity and concerted efforts are required to assist those severely affected by the drought.
Area MP, Dekow Mohamed, expressed optimism that the project's timing is crucial as the local community has been disenfranchised by the ongoing drought and the resulting lack of access to water.
The lawmaker expressed gratitude towards Mountain of Mercy for their generous support, but also emphasized the need for the government to invest in water projects, stating that water is essential to human life and no one can survive without it.
"A place will remain a ghost land if there is no water, children cannot go to school, hospitals cannot be operationalised, we, therefore, appeal to the government to venture into this kind of project to support communities," he said.
Dekow made an appeal to other well-wishers to support the communities affected by the drought, stressing that any form of assistance provided to them would greatly contribute to improving their situation and their wellbeing.
The event was also graced by the presence of Hussein Maalim, a former Member of Parliament for Garissa and minister during Moi's era, as well as several members of the Garissa County Assembly.
The devastating dry spell has recently made pastoralists from as far as Wajir County converge in Garissa in search of water and pasture for their animals.
