County Government of Laikipia

The County Government has developed the Laikipia County Water Masterplan. This document provides the blueprint that will guide water resource development and supply for the next 20 years.

In this master plan, the government has identified a strategy for the next five years in which there are specific initiatives including the rehabilitation of 231 dams and pans, development of 130 boreholes, five mega-dams, and 15 privately developed dams as well as increasing bulk water supply schemes across the county.

The government seeks to connect 40,000 households to water and facilitate the irrigation of 50,000 hectares. All these dams and projects are spread across the 15 wards.

The aim is to provide enough water for the residents for consumption and production. Being a rather semi-arid area, waiting for rains will not provide a lasting solution. The water will help residents grow crops for consumption and trading, which will ensure a healthy population that is economically stable.

There will also be enough water to grow fodder for the livestock. As a result, the border conflict that happens every year as people fight for graving ground will be a thing of the past. Support from the government for the establishment of a feedlot system will help the pastoralists fatten their animals through minimized livestock movement.

The government also plans to co-invest with private sector to establish 40,000-60,000 acres of fodder crops.

Availability of adequate clean water will ensure hygiene and thus eliminate water-borne diseases. Thus ensuring Laikipia continues being the county with the best quality of life.