The Principal Secretary (PS) State Department for Irrigation, Ephantus Kimotho, has announced the government's plan to utilize Lake Baringo water for irrigation.
Speaking during an annual general meeting and prize-giving ceremony at Barwessa Secondary School in Baringo North, Kimotho stated that his department is conducting studies to ascertain the capacity of water to be distributed in areas affected by banditry and cattle rustling in a bid to boost food security.
The PS revealed that a test run will be done for 1,000 acres in Tiaty and another 1,000 acres in Baringo North for the water body with the potential of irrigating close to 60,000 acres up to neighbouring Marigat Sub County. "We are doing studies on it because water levels have risen and submerged vast land near the lake which can be put to economic use," he said.
Mr Kimotho accompanied by Baringo North Member of Parliament Joseph Makilap stated that the water will be crucial to local farmers because it will enable them venture into extensive agriculture and shun retrogressive activities that impact negatively on their livelihoods.
