Japan’s Grants Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Program to Rehabilitate Once Lost Earth Dam in Ikutha

Title

Japan’s Grants Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Program to Rehabilitate Once Lost Earth Dam in Ikutha

Date

11th March 2011

Location

Ikutha district, Eastern province

Project title

The Project for the Rehabilitation of Nguni Earth Dam Water Project

Amount

US$ 100,013

Attendance

• Mr. Hiroshi Matsuura, the second secretary and the head of GGP programme of the Embassy of Japan
• Area Member of Parliament Hon. Isaac Muoki
• Ikutha District Officer
• District water office team
• Mr. Sammy Ngangi, the CEO of Women Grassroots Development Programme and its team
• Community of Nguni

Totaling about 350 participants

Main activity

Mr. Hiroshi Matsuura, the head of GGP programme signed a grant contract amounting to USD 100,013 (approx. Kshs 8 million) with Women Grassroots Development Programme at Kalivu location, Ikutha District, Eastern Province for the project of rehabilitating the once lost earth dam of Nguni.

At the completion of the project, communities of Kalivu and maruma, Ikutha district will be able to enjoy safer and cleaner water as a result of rehabilitation of an earth dam, digging of shallow well and setting up of water pump. Three million Kenya Shillings from the Community Development fund (CDF) will also be incorporated in the project to construct 2 sand dams, spillway and for the enforcement of embankment to prolong the life span of the dam.

At the ceremony, the area leaders praised Japan’s efforts to help the community have easy access to water by rehabilitating the dam that had not been in use for at least three and half years. Mr. Matsuura congratulated the Women Grassroots Development Programme for their success in getting the grant and he wished all the best in the successful implementation of the project so that people of Ikutha will be able utilize the time saved in other useful activities which would improve the family socio-economic status.

Nguni earth dam was build by the British settlers in 1950’s which after the independence was handed over to the community. The dam had been providing water to about 7,000 people until the year 2007 when it was hit by El Nino rains and was filled up by massive soil erosion from Athi Hills.