New dams signal the end of Kenya's killer floods

AllAfrica.com via the Star (Kenya): The Government has set aside funds to implement a national water harvesting and storage programme in the current financial year. The Ministry of Devolution and Planning and the Ministry of Environment, Water and Natural Resources shall undertake the works through the National Youth Service, eight water services boards, and six regional development authorities."

The dams are coming up in a massive way that could make a huge difference, especially in drought-prone areas. But this is not the first time national policy is driving water harvesting and storage. It has always been in word, with the obvious skews across the last five decades.

The eight water service boards were established under the Water Act of 2002, but their impact has been minimal, with some moribund. Athi Water Services Board and Lake Victoria North Water Services Board have rolled out their water storage plans for the current financial year.

Lake Victoria South Water Services board has put out bids for Oriwo Dam in Kibiri Ward of Karachuonyo Constituency. Coast Water Services Board is also working on Kahindi, Maponda, Madiani, Kwa Kazungu and Kasidi dams, among others, for the water-scarce coast.

Others - Tana Water Services Board,Tanathi Water Services Board, Northern Water Services Board, and Rift Valley Water Services Board are also making similar moves. Lake Victoria South Water Services Board covers one of the areas that suffered a devastating drought over the last year, ending March, with wide coverage in the local media. It is also one of the areas with huge gullies along which water dams could be built, at minimal cost....

Collapsed bridge on the Voi River, located west of the Aruba Dam, in Tsavo East National Park, Kenya. This photograph was taken on an adjacent bridge used by game viewer vehicles. Shot by  Christopher T Cooper (CT Cooper), Wikimedia Commons, under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license