REPUBLIC OF KENYA ELGEYO M ARAKWET DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT PLAN 1979-83 ELGEYO MARAKWET DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT PLAN 1979—1983 MA N DE RA T U R K A N A M A R S A BIT W A J I R WEST POKOT S A M B U R U I S I O L O BARIN60 LAI KI PI A NAKURU "X'Ç, \ NYERI GAR I SSA >. <*G N A R O K . MACHAKOS TANA RIVER K AJ I ADO oO *oP MINISTRY OF ECONOMIC PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT -MOMBASA ISRIC LIBRARY KE, JANUARY 1980 Sn-ir |S}5 Wageningen, The Netherlands Scanned from original by ISRIC - World Soil Information, as ICSU World Data Centre for Soils. The purpose is to make a safe depository for endangered documents and to make the accrued information available for consultation, following Fair Use Guidelines. Every effort is taken to respect Copyright of the materials within the archives where the identification of the Copyright holder is clear and, where feasible, to contact the originators. For questions please contact [email protected] indicating the item reference number concerned. y REPUBLIC OF KENYA E L G E Y 0 M A R A K ¥ E T DISTRIC DEVELOPMENT FLAN 19 7 9 - 19 8 3 JANUARY 1980 TABLE 0™ CONTENTS. PAGE"' Plan Overview. ••«•..•••»•»o.••••»••• ••••••••••••.»•• 1*-3 Chapter s- Introduction and Background. ••• 4» 10 Physical aspects of the District* Demographic profile of the District. Socio Economic profile of the District. Chapter lis- Sectoral programmes for the District. ••10—61 A. Production Sector .» •• .10-31 1. Agriculture 2. Natural Resources 3. Commerce & Industry 4. Cooperative Development 5. Tourism and Wildlife. B. Physical Infrastructure sector ....32-50 1. Transport and Roads 2. Power, Communications and service Centres 3. Water C. Social Services.,, »51—61 1. Health and Nutrition 2. Education 3. Housing and Social Services. : c Chapter III s -Intégrât »d District Plan. ^m # ## m 62-74 Appendices?— 1. District Data sheet •••»••••• ...75-83 2. Service Centres Infrastructure & Service. „ 84-87 3. County Council Development Programme J38-90 4. List of cooperative Societies. ......91 5. Schools enrcl^irwti* 92-93 FOREWORD This District Development Plan is presented as part of the Kenya Government's continuing efforts towards- 1 -. * 'decentralized planning. This document essentially reflects a district effort co.-ordinated by the District Development Officer, with inputs, from district officers of the various operating ministries, local authorities and private agencies.. Guidance for the formulation for the plan was given by the Rural Planning Division of the Ministry of Economic Planning and Development, Users of this plan should be aware of the following events which took place during and after the preparation of the major parts of the document s- (l) Kenya is presently under a severe budget squeeze which means that probably several of the proposals of the plan will not be implemented as quickly as would be desired and expected. (2) Although Ministries were asked in advance to provide disaggregated budget data for each District, some found it difficult to do so. It is hoped, however, that where such data have been provided, the D.D.C. will make maximum use of the data for the purpose of ^Sectoral "implementation. It should, however, ibe noted that, because of certain difficulties, the development expenditures for several (ministries are only partial. (3) Population data is.based on the 19o9 census. The most recent census data was not available at the time of formulation of this Plan, (4) Re-organization of the Government Ministries and Departments which took place towards the end of 1979 has also not been reflected in this plan.. ELGBYO-MARAKWET DISTRICT FLAN ' OVERVIEW 1979-83 Elgeyo Marakwet District requires considerable develop­ ment to be able to fully utilize its whole potential. The potential for development and problems can be r.- . considered under the following headings s - A. Agricultural development B. Livestock development C. Water utilization and Irrigation D. Mineral extraction E. Forestry F. Tourism. A. Agricultural Developments- Agriculture can be ». ' • . " r,c considered in three types s (i) High potential (ii) dry land (iii) Irrigation (considered under (c). .T I 1) High potential land is mostly in the escarpment and on the plateau zone. To benefit in these areas, the 1 I.A.D.P. is helping small holder farmers through credit, input supply, marketing extension, and communications ^components. Il) For drier parts lower in the valley, I.A.D.P. should be used also. The typical crops of millet, sorghum, cowpeas and cassava could be further developed, with cotton and groundnuts as the main cash crops. The Kerio ^Valley development will be enhanced by a major government /thrust to the valley through Kerio Valley Development JAuthority Programmes. »-...-» . B. Livestock Development!- Improvement of the existing stocks of cattle and sheep and gradual replacement of local herds with grade animals will be emphasized during the plan period. The I.A.D.P. will assist in tacking this» There are however several problems for this traditional activity. The lack of water, poor, communications, the prevelance of diseases all constrain the potential development of live­ stock. There is a reluctance of the traditional cattle owners to use the limited facilities especially dips, but the provision of Veterinary services is/faââequate for the District. There are active private auctions, but a better development marketing system set up by either using the Livestock Marketing Division or by well organised co-opera-» tive structures would increase the benefits of cattle dealers. The equating of livestock holding to wealth is deeply rooted in the Valley and has tc be handed with care. However a reduction of the cattle numbers and controlled grazing could benefit. C. Water Utilization and Irrigation Developments- There f* are three specific irrigation schemes in the valley - Arror, Chepsigot and Tot. However, they are small with the one at Tot being largest with a ^OJiectare plot. The traditional irrigation has lead to agricultural development in the past but it has not been an efficient use of water. The runoff 2 has been reduced by inefficient upland irrigation with less for storage for cattle etc. The areas for irriga­ tion potential development are more than 15,000 hectares. The land is suitable for"Irffgàtïbn with crops such as cotton, cowpeas, maize, groundnuts and some vegetable. The Kerio Valley can be considered as one of the best potential areas in Kenya in terms of ^and suitability,» Vith development of reservours this could be utilized for development of local fishing potential which could add to additional activity for local people and supple­ ment, protein requirements and provide employment opportunities by utilizing more fully the resource of storing water. MlodL*-lrydro power units could also be a potential of the stored and regulated water flowing down the steep escarpment. D. Mineral Extrations- The opening up kf the Flourspar Mining works could be a start of «ui important economic activity in the valley. There has Nen a small copper works at Biretwa and there have al\s0 been several observations of mineral occurances in the area» There is need for a systematic investigation of mineral occurances by establishing a mineral exploration team. E. Forestry Developments- There is no doubt that a better use of the forests could be of short and long term development benefit. The present degradation and excision is eroding a resource which is so important for catchment - preservation as well as being of commercial potential in its own right. The forests are and could be further exploited for timber extraction but only on a replacement and development basis. F. Tourism Developments- There is potential for developing tourism because of the scenic beauty and wildlife around the Lake Kamnor<ofc. - If there are better communications into the valley it is possible to consider linking up into Western tourist circuit of Kericho, South Nyanza, Kisumu, Kakamega and to the inner circuit of Traae-Nzoia, Baringo, Samburu. Even without the possibility of seeing game, the view of the escarpment and the valley çouîd^provide an attraction. Initial camp sites could provide some additional local revenue with the possibility of expansion of tourism depending on development of tourist industry and construction of more adequate road communication through the valley. CONSTRAINTS TO DEVELOPMENT The severe constraints to the fulfillment of the above potential ares- 3 - A. Communications s - All over the District one major constrant is lack^of good communications. The road network is poor^ there is 'no^railway, the telephone and post offices facilities are poor and limited. The roads are too few and with the heavy rains even these few become impassable. They are also poorly maintained. B. Conservations- In Kerio Valley with the present cropping and livestock pattern the erosion problem is very serious constraint to long term valley develop­ ment. ' h C. Socials - The local people are traditionally pastoralists and mostly japmadjc although they have now become sedentary, they have developed farmers. In the valley and some parts of the plateau the pastoralist tradition has lead to the well known attitude of cattle possession being a form of wealth and status. It is evident that to develop is first to convince and then have the confidence of the people. Another consträSat is prevelance of diseases« There is widespread malaria, tuberculosis and tsëtsefly is vs~ common. This can prevent sound developmehTT, apart from being socially undesirable. D. Financial s - As stated in almost all sectoral progra­ mmes finance is a great constraint. The finance for opening up development of the valley is a major const­ raint. The cost of getting good communications into the valley, of serving the people on the plateau and escarpment, of building adequate infrastructure is enormous.