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Latest up-date: 25th May 2009
Programme Management:
On the 15th of July a mission from the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs was carried out in Nyandarua District to assess the status of the various projects activities. Dr. Vincenzo Racalbuto, Health Programme Officer from the Technical Cooperation Unit in Rome, visited the Kisawel Water Project and met with some of the communities of the Community Health Project (i.e. Weru Community and Murungaru Community).
The communities within the District have benefited by the KIDDP through the implementation of three water projects (Kisawel Water Project, Njabini-Ngwataniro Water Supply Project and Mukungi Mumui Mikaro Water Project) as well as one Community Health Project. The visit has been organized under the supervision of the Nyandarua North District Commissioner office that provided all the necessary logistics support.
The mission allowed to highlight some of the main results achieved through these initiatives and identify possible areas of intervention for future projects.
Sectors of intervention
On the 19th of May the Kathita Gatunga water project was inaugurated in the Tharaka District. The project consists in taking raw water by gravity from the Kathita river through a concrete diversion weir and a 4km long main pipeline.
The water is then taken through a treatment process at the treatment works to make it clean and safe, before being release into a collecting masonry storage tank which is connected to a 7km long main supply line, initially 3 kiosks from where the beneficiaries will draw water at a fee will be constructed at markets and schools within the location, further distribution to various points is envisaged and will be funded by the community in collaboration with the Catholic Diocese of Meru who are the water services providers. This project will benefit a total of 35,000 beneficiaries and their livestock.
Health Sector
On 8th July, 2008, the Kenya Italy Debt for Development Programme (KIDDP) team accompanied by Ministry of Health (Medical Services and Public Health and Sanitation) staff from the headquarters, travelled to Nyandarua to monitor the progress of the community strategy project within the district.
At the time of the visit, the District community strategy working group which included the District Health Management Team (DHMTs) members had carried out awareness and sensitization at the district and community level. The District team was trained on participatory Rural Approach and undertook a Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) in ten community health units that identified human diseases and water as priority area of intervention within the district.
Further, the district team facilitated the preparation of community health unit action plans and trained Community Health Extension Workers (CHEWs), who in turn trained the Community Own Resource Persons (CORPs). A total of 500 CORPs were trained and have already started health activities within the community. The CORPs are currently mapping households and distributing aqua tabs, long lasting insecticide treated nets (LLITNs), growth monitoring and de-worming school going children.
On Thursday 10th July the Ministry of Youth and Sports and KIDDP's team delivered the first consignment of tools to six Youth Polytechnics in West Pokot.
The Management Committee Chairpersons and Managers of Kapenguria, Ortum, Kodich, Sina, Sigor and Chepareria Youth Polytechnics gathered at the Kapenguria YP and received tools and equipment for Carpentry and Joinery, Masonry, Dressmaking and Tailoring courses worthy about Ksh 3.6 million.
In line with the support accorded to the YPs, tools and equipment for a total amount of Ksh 2.1 million for each institute will be supplied and the final delivery is planned in September. Chairpersons of Management Committees, Managers and instructors of the six YPs have already benefitted from upgrading training programmes at KTTC.
On the 24th and 25th June the Ministry of Local Government (MoLG), the lead implementing agency in the Korogocho Slum Upgrading Programme, has carried out an informal survey to assess the real situation on the ground and provide a snap shot preliminary information on the slum.
Some of the main findings were:
The community expressed doubts on the success of upgrading Programmes’, since past upgrading efforts have failed;
The issue of security of tenure is given a high priority by the residents
The existing infrastructure gaps in the areas of the road networks, water and sanitation, electricity, health services, social amenities, education facilities, among others.
The survey report thus concluded that there is a need to build a common vision among the community and undertake a real short term intervention to boost their confidence.
On the 7th of July, following the survey, the MoLG carried out a workshop to sensitize the community as well as support the set up of a Residents’ Committee (RC).
The workshop was attended by a wide range of stakeholders, including MoLG officials, the Italian Cooperation, the area Councilor, two assistant chiefs, CBOs, FBOs (Comboni missionaries, the Imam, and Church pastors), and over 30 community opinion leaders including women, youth, tenants, landlords, and elderly people. It was agreed that the RC will be formed through community barazas in the 7 villages and will then undergo training and capacity building.
