The Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) has donated ten (10,000L) water tanks and 150 dignity kits to Baringo residents to alleviate their suffering due to the incessant floods.

The donation is meant to benefit about 150 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Marigat, Baringo County.

TIKA is supporting Kenya National Chamber of Commerce (KNCCI) and Health Relief International (HRI) to implement a Water Sanitation and Health Program for communities and SME’S displaced by floods in Baringo.

This is part of HRI’s and KNCCI’s contribution on the signed tripartite partnership with the Ministry of Devolution and ASALs.The project will ensure that over 4,000 people who have been affected by the floods receive clean water, sanitation and hygiene products such as soaps, sanitary towels, and hygiene kits etc as well as psychological support.

‘We are glad that our sponsors have endorsed the project after a successful visit to affected areas. We are also happy to announce that construction and masonry work for water storage tanks has started,” said Hassan Wario KNCCI Coast Regional Director.

During the event which was graced by the Baringo Governor Hon Stanley Kiptis the Turkish team also welcomed further discussion for cooperation on an agribusiness project that will have direct impact on SME’s and cooperatives towards support of recovery.

“We hope to initiate these discussions led by the Chambers President and Patron of HRI once the current project is complete. We look forward to launching the WASH project in three weeks,” said TIKA Country Director, Eyup Yavuz Umutli.

The donation comes three months after the two organizations were tasked by the Ministry of Devolution and ASAL to carry out a feasibility study on the effects of floods in Baringo and come up with post COVID-19 recovery measures.

So far about 3,087 households have been displaced in Baringo with more than 88 square kilometers of land around Lake Baringo and more than 200 hectares of the Pekerra Irrigation project are submerged.