This archive report was first published on 15 November 2019.
Published on November 15, 2019, the discovery of the Lotikipi aquifer in Turkana County, which is believed to be the largest in the world, dates back to 2013. The aquifer, located between Lokichogio and Lokitaung, contains approximately 250 billion cubic meters of water.
However, the water in the aquifer has not been utilized due to high levels of salinity, making it unsuitable for humans and animals. The National Government had allocated 5,000 acres of land in Lodwar for irrigation using water from the aquifer, but this move was criticized by scientists who led the discovery.
Despite the challenges, Turkana County has now partnered with Almar Water, a Saudi Arabia-based firm, to erect a desalination plant. According to Tito Ochieng, the director of water services in Turkana, the county has contracted Almar Water to construct the plant at a cost of between Sh10 billion.
Water Secretary Simon Chelugui expressed concerns that the national government was not aware of the arrangement between the county and the investor, as water is under devolved units. Chelugui also suggested that Tullow could help build a line from Turkwel to Lodwar to benefit the residents.
The desalination plant will be erected on top of the Lotikipi aquifer in Nanam village, providing relief to Turkana households who have been struggling to access clean water.
