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GWA KIONG’O DAM EXPANSION TAKES COMMUNITY TO FOOD HAVEN

GWA KIONG’O DAM EXPANSION TAKES COMMUNITY TO FOOD HAVEN

At 75 percent completion, Gwa Kiong’o Community Dam expansion is a rich haven of economic activities. Besides the crops under irrigation and a domestic water treatment plant that supplies approximately 300 households, birds swim to the roar of machines compacting the dam walls. The spectacle has attracted bird watchers who agree the experience is therapeutic and a sight to behold. These tourists also enjoy the catches of the undisturbed young men fishing at the dam.

Says Mr. Bernard Ndegwa, the project chairman: “We are happy for this project since rain is scarce in this region. This project is supporting irrigated agriculture, youth fish farming and boating, tourist attraction (birds viewing) and domestic use.”

Mr. Michael Maina, one of the youth, says as a fisherman at the Gwa Kiong’o dam, “we are in a group of 10 youth but only five are active. We harvest the fish, sell and earn from it. When the dam is expanded, the shallow waters will increase, hence more youth will be attracted to actively join the group and we will be able to have a good harvest and add more fish species.”

According to Joseph Kuria, a labourer on the project, when he “heard about the commencement of the expansion of this project, I sought employment which has enabled me to develop. I have bought a cow and managed to take care of other projects at home.”

Mr Ndegwa, the project chairman, says the expansion of the dam promises “a stable” economic outlook. “I am grateful to the Government through the National Irrigation Authority for this project. We can now say we are part of the President’s Big 4 Agenda on food security. The youth here cannot say there is no employment.”