By Emmanuel Khisa

CS for Water & Irrigation, Hon Eugene Wamalwa, on Thursday June 2, signed an MOU between Kenya and Turkey for the implementation of greater Mt. Elgon, Bungoma and Busia Multipurpose water project.

This comes few months after a €15.5M Water MOU signed by the CS and the Belgium Government in February for Vihiga Water Supply. The Vihiga Water Supply project would ensure access to clean water for over 300,000 residents of Luanda, Emuhaya, Sabatia, Vihiga and Hamisi.

At an event witnessed by HE Hon Uhuru Kenyatta, HE Recep Tayyip Erdogan, HE Hon William Ruto and other Cabinet Secretaries, the CS for Water and his Counterpart, the Turkish Minister for Economy signed a Ksh 50 billion Water project MOU that will not only increase access to clean water for over  1 million people but also the acreage under irrigation.

This comes as a reprieve to the residents of Bungoma, Mt. Elgon, Busia and Trans Nzoia who, for a long period have struggled with the problem of water scarcity. Besides, this will increase food production as a result of an increase in land under irrigation

Speaking at a separate function in Bungoma, Bungoma County Governor, HE Kenneth Lusaka, welcomed the agreement acknowledging that it is a dream come true for many residents of Bungoma County.Governor Lusaka together with the Water & Irrigation CS had met the Turkish delegation earlier where the details of the agreement had been discussed.The Governor was delighted that it had now been signed.