Even as the world commemorates ‘World Water Day ‘, residents of Lelen village, Mogotio Sub County in Baringo County is an example of how water can transform people’s lives.
Lelen, a region which is dry and getting water was a problem can now breathe a sigh of relief after UNDP under the GEF Small Grant’s Program (SGP) sunk a borehole to enable get clean water at their door step unlike where they used to travel more than 10 kilometers to get water.
Jane Kiprono narrated how lack of water used to affect their daily lives as they would trek a long distance to River Perkerra to get water with dangers including attack by bees and accidents caused by speeding vehicles along Marigat Nakuru High way.
She said with the presence of clean water even the waterborne diseases have reduced drastically with others venturing into farming to fend for their families.
Mercy Limo who was once a charcoal burner took the advantage of the water and started farming by irrigating her small farm where she plants vegetables, sweet potatoes and beans is reaping big from agriculture.
A technology to allow the locals to get water anytime of the day using tokens was also installed so that the locals can get water at their convenient time.
Baringo Governor Stanley Kiptis lauded the initiative done by the farming systems saying it has reduced the struggles by the locals to get clean water adding that his county government is improving water coverage in the county.