Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects 2011/2012: Grant Contract Signing Ceremony for The Project for Muthambi Gitije Irrigation Water Provision and The Project for the Expansion of Willies Primary School

Grant Contract Signing Ceremony for The Project for Muthambi Gitije Irrigation Water Provision and The Project for the Expansion of Willies Primary School

Date

20 March 2012

Location

Gitije Location, Muthambi Division, Maara District, Eastern Province

Project title

• The Project for Muthambi Gitije Irrigation Water Provision
• The Project for the Expansion of Willies Primary School

Amount

• US$ 112,112 (approx. Kshs 9 Million) for The Project for Muthambi Gitije Irrigation Water Provision
• US$ 111,178 (approx. Kshs 9 Million) for The Project for the Expansion of Willies Primary School

Attendance

• H. E. Mr. Toshihisa Takata, The Ambassador of Japan to the Republic of Kenya
• Mr. Hiroshi Matsuura, First Secretary and Head of GGP, Embassy of Japan in the Republic of Kenya
• Hon. Mr. Kareke Mbiuki, Member of Parliament for Nithi, Assistant Minister of Agriculture
• Maara District Commissioner
• District Officers (Water, Irrigation and Education)
• Chairpersons and members of management Committee of Muthambi - Gitije Irrigation Water Project (MGIWP) and Willies Primary School (Willies PS)
• Teachers, Pupils and Parents from Willies Primary School
• Members of the community Muthambi Gitije Location

About 1,000 participants in total.

Main activity

H.E Mr. Toshihisa Takata, the Ambassador of Japan to the Republic of Kenya signed Grant Contracts for two projects in Muthambi Division, Maara District, namely the Project for Muthambi Gitije Irrigation Water Provision and the Project for the Expansion of Willies Primary School.

The grant given to MGIWP is to be used for the purchase of pipes which will be laid over a distance of 21.1km as an extension of the CDF funded 6.2km water pipeline from the intake along Nithi River to Muthambi and Gitije. It is estimated that about 7,200 farmers will benefit from this project as they will be able to increase their income by growing crops a year round. On the other hand, the grant given to Willies PS is to be spent on improving facilities such as classrooms, an administration block and three water tanks, and the purchase of school furniture. Willies PS, one of the top primary schools in the division, was established in 2007 with the aim of providing primary education mainly for orphans and currently has approximately 310 pupils but has been suffering from lack of facilities.

Under the circumstance, the two projects are expected to greatly contribute to the development of Muthambi division.

In the ceremony, entertainments by the pupils of Willies PS and a women group were shown followed by speeches from the two grantee organizations and the guests. On behalf of the organizations, Mr. Nyaga, the chairperson of MGIWP and Mr. Miriti, the head teacher of Willies PS expressed their gratitude to the Government of Japan. Then, the area MP Hon. Mbiuki showed his appreciation to Japan and encouraged the community people to work hard for the two projects and contribute to their own development. The Ambassador H.E. Mr. Takata in his speech first congratulated MGIWP and Willies PS on receiving Japan’s grant and wished the successful completion of the projects in cooperation with the people and the Government Authorities in the area. He also explained the reason why the two projects could be selected for the grant assistance in the same area, which is rare, by saying “The enthusiasm of people for improving the life in Muthambi caught our attention. Please keep up that spirits to bring about a change to the community and to the children.”