Officials from the World Bank, Water Sector Trust Fund, the national Ministry of Water and Turkana County’s Programme Implementation Unit have completed a four-day supervision exercise to assess ongoing borehole projects under the Horn of Africa Groundwater for Resilience Project (HoAFW4RP).
The exercise focused on assessing drilling progress, ensuring compliance with project standards, identifying measures to accelerate completion and improving access to reliable water for communities facing persistent water shortages.
The inspection covered six borehole schemes across Turkana Central, Turkana West, Turkana North and Loima Sub-Counties. The sites visited were Koribok, Lowarengak, Loturtur, Nangolekuruk, Nariamao and Kaitese.
Dr. James Origa of the World Bank commended Turkana County Government and its implementing partners for the progress made, noting that the projects are critical to strengthening the resilience of communities frequently affected by water scarcity and drought.
“The community is our primary client because these boreholes play a significant role in improving their livelihoods, supporting livestock, and strengthening community resilience against severe impacts of drought,” he said.
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Turkana County Project Coordinator Charles Ekeno also addressed residents during the inspection, stressing the importance of community ownership in ensuring the long-term sustainability of the water infrastructure.
Ekeno urged residents and water management committees to protect the facilities, support proper operation and maintenance, and work closely with implementing partners to ensure the investments deliver lasting benefits.
“These projects are for the benefit of the community, and their sustainability depends on how well they protect and manage them. We are asking the community to take ownership, support management committees and ensure facilities serve both current and future generations,” he said.
Residents welcomed the projects, saying the additional water infrastructure would bring water closer to households, livestock and public institutions while reducing the long distances they travel in search of the vital resource.
The four-day supervision exercise reaffirmed the commitment of Turkana County, the World Bank and other development partners to expanding sustainable groundwater infrastructure and accelerating access to safe and reliable water for vulnerable communities.
The borehole projects are expected to play a key role in strengthening water security and helping communities cope with the effects of recurrent drought and water scarcity across Turkana County.
