HELSINKI, FINLAND: World Vision Finland has signaled continued monitoring of one Kenya’s major donor-funded community project.
African Head of World Vision Finland Ulla Tervo, said close monitoring of Meibeki water project is part of the long-term development programmes.
"When we move on in 2017, it will be the locals who will be taking over development activities but we will keep monitoring," said Ms. Tervo adding that there has been constant contact with the community over the time.
Noting that the community is conscious of the situation, Ms. Tervo lauded achievements thus far. The gravity-powered water project hold key to the lives of residents in the North Rift part of Kenya who hitherto unthought-of in the past
Officials from Finland have made sustained site visits in the recent past. The agency boss says capacity building is and has remained part of long term development programmes. Perhaps to thwart any administrative shortfalls, the locals have registered a management arm under Meibeki Community Water Users Association.
Thousands of residents spanning the hill down the valley have benefited from the project ever since it was initiated. However, a proportionate share of the population has had to make do with patchy supply of the commodity, much worse in dry seasons.
Ms Tervo says the shortage has been caused by weather patterns and high altitude – referring to topography of the area where the 42-kilometre stretch project stands. Towards the end of last year, different locations of Meibeki valley experienced water rations slump down prompting locals to occasionally fetch water from nearby Moiben River.
Acknowledging the shortage, Ms. Tervo noted that; “a need for rerouting of the main pipeline and technical work is on-going.” She also decried dry spell battering the region as another cause for inconsistency.
"We have now learnt that the real reason for reduced pressure is due to extra connections that have been made. And as soon as this gets corrected, the pressure will be back to the normal one (sic), “explained Ms. Tervo in an interview at World Vision headquarters, Finland.
She continued; Meibeki area is now experiencing dry season and this has affected water availability. Despite the shortage, locals remain confident that technical hitches would not last longer given the massive demand for water in the region and the country by extent.
It is part of unprecedented drawbacks that the donor and the community would not like to grapple with especially at the time when the deadline for entire development project is fast approaching.
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The Finnish agency continues to closely monitor the project, the agency boss said. As for Meibeki community officials, making everything certain for their members will be little short of assurance – to ensure adequate supply of water.
Lately, there has been a heightened activity from both sides angled around administrative and continuous supply of water to the residents. "As management we are aware of the World Vision transition and we do have linked our strategy to supply more water to clients,” said Community project Manager, Mr. Daniel Rono.
He pointed out that the community has aggressively been engaged in revenue generating activities for sustainability. With time ticking away for donor- involvement, there are loud pleas by the community to have the donor stay on.
It appears now the community leadership face monumental task even as Finnish aid agency indicated its aim to keep a close eye. For a region that is seasonally weather-depressed, residents can only hope to see extension of the programme timeline beyond 2017.
A latest field report by Meibeki community administrators showed that work is underway to increase the flow of water from Chebara dam – the sole source of water pipeline. This includes rerouting of the pipelines, regular monitoring of flow alongside economic ventures among them constructing of green houses for horticulture.
Over 33,000 beneficiaries depend on the water project including schools and social health amenities. World Vision Finland has been spearheading water project since 2007.
Through financial muscle by Finnish government, the project enveloped under Area Development Plan (ADP), has all but quenched the thirst of the locals- albeit hurdles. And after nearly a decade in the region, a major transitional stage of entire project is looming.
