Joy as vulnerable groups benefit from the 10 billion World bank project.
A government project targeting communities hosting refugees is succeeding in changing the narrative that refugees have over the years been receiving preferential treatment compared to the communities hosting the refugees.
The Kenya Development Response to Displacement Impacts Project (KDRDIP) which is a national government project supported by the World Bank is turning lives around in Turkana County by improving access to social services, expanding economic opportunities and enhancing environmental management for host and displaced communities.
Speaking while issuing 78 Million Cheques to 156 People leaving with Disabilities Youth and Women groups in Kakuma ward Devolution Cs Eugene Wamalwa says For the past decades, communities hosting the bulk of the refugees have suffered devastating effects on both the environment, economy and social well being.
Wamalwa says the disbursement is part of the 10 billion world bank funded program involved in construction of peace Dams in Kasses West Pokot County, Urum Dam in Turkana County and Forole Dam in Marsabit county aimed at reducing cross border conflicts and increase cross border interaction through trade.The project is being implemented in three counties of Garissa (Sh 4.2 billion), Wajir (Sh 2 billion) and Turkana (Sh.3.1 billion).
In Garissa County, Fafi, Dadaab and Lagdera sub-counties will each receive (Sh.1.5 billion), (Sh.1.6 billion) and (Sh.1.1billion) respectively. The projects will be implemented over the next 5 years.
The Cs says apart from improving the economic welfare of Kakuma residents the project will also focus on provision of better health care services at the Kakuma sub county hospital that has received 56 million shillings to construct staff quoters, construction and equipping of new laboratory, construction of a new maternity ward and fencing of the facility.
He however cautioned beneficiaries to make sure that the money brings positive change in their lives which he says this is people driven initiative that will be closely monitored to achieve its objective warning politicians from interfering with the project.
The Cs says already the project is changing lives in Letea Ward a women group by the name lomorototio which started from table banking received 500,000 shillings and started a bakery that is two weeks old which he says they were quite impressed to see that the group is making a profit of 36,000 shillings in a day, He promised to buy the group two motorcycles that will enable them buy and transport their stock from Kakuma town.
Rose Ading who is the chair lady of Lomorototio Women group says apart from the profit they get from the bakery they also give out loans at an interest they currently have 700,000 shillings they used to borrow money from politicians but this time round they are empowered they are no longer beggars they provide for their families and everyone is happy engaging in income generation thanking the president and the world bank for initiating the project.
The Cs was accompanied by Energy Cs John Munyes and Turkana deputy governor Peter Lotethiro who urged locals to invest in projects that generate income.