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REPUBLIC OF KENYA

THE COUNTY ASSEMBLY OF LAIKIPIA

FIRST ASSEMBLY THIRD SESSION

REPORT OF THE FINANCE AND TRANSPORT AND PUBLIC WORKS

COMMITTEE

VISIT TO BARINGO COUNTY.

Dated: 10TH

FEBRUARY, 2015

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Preface

Mr. Speaker sir, the Transport and public works as well as the Finance committee were

constituted on 24th

April 2013 pursuant to provisions of Standing Order 191(1), it is my pleasure

and duty to present to this house, the committees report on a committees visit to Baringo County.

The membership of the committees is derived from S.O 191(1) and it comprises of the following;

Hon.Francis Mukuria - Chairman Transport and public works

Hon.Joseph Kabaci - Chairman Finance Committee

Hon.Catherine Waruguru - Vice chairperson of Finance committee

Hon.John Nderitu - Vice chair of Transport committee

Hon.Joseph Suge - Member of Finance Committee

Hon.Wilson Wakahiu - Member of Transport Committee

Hon Alice W. Ndegwa - Member of Finance Committee

Committee Mandate

Mr. Speaker sir, the Transport and public works committee is mandated to look into all matters

related to County transport, including County roads, street lighting, traffic and parking, public

transport and harbors, excluding the regulation of international and national shipping and matters

related thereto county public works and services including storm water management systems in

built up areas and sanitation services.

Further Mr.speaker sir, the Finance and county planning is mandated to look into all matters

relating to County public finance and planning, development including statistics; land survey and

mapping; boundaries and fencing; housing and electricity and gas reticulation and energy

regulation.

The functions of the committees are as follows;

a) To investigate, inquire into, and report on all matters relating to the mandate,

management, activities, administration, operations and estimates of the assigned

departments;

(b) To study the programme and policy objectives of departments and the effectiveness of

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the implementation;

(c) To study and review all county legislation referred to it;

(d) To study, assess and analyse the relative success of the departments as measured by

the results obtained as compared with their stated objectives;

(e) To investigate and inquire into all matters relating to the assigned departments as they

may deem necessary, and as may be referred to them by the County

Assembly;

(f) To vet and report on all appointments where the Constitution or any law requires the

County Assembly to approve, except those under Standing Order 184 (Committee on

Appointments); and

(g) To make reports and recommendations to the County Assembly as often as possible,

including recommendation of proposed legislation.

Committee on Finance and Transport members with Hon. Members from Baringo County and Hon. Kamkem Koech the Baringo

County Assembly Speaker.

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INTRODUCTION

Baringo County is truly the land of a thousand views located in the ululating hills of the expanded Rift

Valley with vast terrains of valleys and escarpments. It is located in the former Rift Valley Province

of Kenya, it borders the following Counties; Turkana to the North and North East, Samburu and

Laikipia to the East, Nakuru to the South, Kericho and Uasin Gishu to the South West, Elgeyo

Marakwet to the West, and West Pokot to the North West.

It prides itself as the only county to have produced the longest serving and the 2nd President of

Kenya H.E the Former President Daniel Toroitich arap Moi. It is in the heart of the former Rift

Valley Province with 6 Constituencies including, Baringo Central, Baringo South, Eldama

Ravine, Mogotio, Tiaty and Baringo North. Kabarnet is the administrative capital of the County.

-Area (Km2): 11,015 Km 2

-Climate/Weather: Temperatures range from a minimum of 10 °C to a maximum of 35.0 °C in

different parts of the county.

-The rainfall varies from 1,000 to 1,500mm in the highlands to 600mm per annum in the low-

lands.

-Road Network: Bitumen Surface (269.0 Km), Gravel Surface (387.4 Km), Earth Surface

(1,517.3 Km).

-Key National Monument(s): Lake Bogoria’s Geysers and Hotsprings, the Equator Crossing at

Mogotio.

The major topographical features in the county are river valleys and plains, the Tugen Hills, the

floor of the Rift Valley and the northern plateau. One of the prominent river valleys is the Kerio

valley. It is situated in the Western part of the county and is a fair flat plain. In the eastern part of

the county near lakes Baringo and Bogoria is the Loboi plain covered mainly by the lacustrine

salt-impregnated silt deposits.

The Tugen Hills in the southwestern part of the county form a conspicuous topographical feature

in the county. The altitude varies from 1000m to 2600m above sea level.

The hills occur in a north-south direction and mainly consist of volcanic rocks. The hills have

steep slopes dissected by gullies. On the eastern and western parts of the hills there are escarp-

ments and rivers flowing down these hills pass through very deep gorges.

Economic Activity:

A major economic activity in Baringo County is the rearing of livestock. Fishing also takes part

particularly in Lake Baringo where Catfish and Tilapia provides income for the people who live

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around the area. The lake is a major tourist attraction site and is home to wildlife such as hippo-

potamus, crocodiles and an abundant variety of fish and birds (More than 500 specifies) making

the region an ornithologist’s paradise.The nearby Lake Bogoria National Reserve is home at

times to one of the world's largest populations of lesser flamingoes. The shore of the lake is lined

with spouting geysers, spurting steam and bubbling geothermal pools.

A number of hotels serve to accommodate the many visitors to the area. They offer excellent ac-

commodation. Further investment in the hospitality sector could see a rise in the industry’s ca-

pacity.

Baringo County Wards

Constit-

uency

Wards

Tiaty

Tirioko Kolowa Ribkwo Silale Loiyamorok

Tangul-

gul-

bei/Korossi

Chu-

ro/Amaya

Baringo

North

Barwes

sa

Kabar-

tonjo

Sai-

mo/Kipsaram

an

Saimo/Soi Bartabwa

Baringo

Central

Kabar-

net Sacho Tenges Kapropita

Baringo

South

Muku-

tani Marigat Ilchamus Mochongoi

Mogotio Mogoti

o

Eminin

g Kisanana

Eldama

Ravine

Lem-

bus

Lembus

Kwen Ravine

Mumber-

es/Maji

Mazuri

Lem-

bus/Perkerr

a

Koibatek

Tourism and wildlife in Baringo

The region has picturesque landscapes that include among others;

Waterfalls: – Torok and Kessup in Keiyo county, Arror and Embobut in

Marakwet county.

Cliffs: - Rondinin (Simut) and Kipngochoch in Baringo county and Kamriny in

Keiyo county.

Valleys: - The great rift valley (Kerio valley and Suguta valley)

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Hills/Escapement: – Cherangany hills in Marakwet and West Pokot County,

Elgeyo Escapement in Keiyo County, Seker hills in Westpokot County, Tugen

hills in Baringo County and Mogila hills in Turkana County.

Gorges: - Turkwel gorge in West Pokot county and Chebloch in Baringo and

Keiyo countys border.

Wildlife

The region is home to wide rage of wildlife which is a major tourism attraction. The main re-

serves and sanctuaries are lakes Bogoria, Baringo, Kapnarok, Nasolot, Saiwa swamp, Rimon and

Lake Turkana. The main type of wildlife includes Elephants, Buffaloes, Crocodile, Hippos and

various birds. These are found in national parks and reserves.

The game reserves and other attraction are popular both to local people and foreigners. Average

numbers of annual visitors to game reserves in a typical year are averagely appreciating annually

Other attractions

Besides the above mentioned attractions the County have other attractions like:

Lakes

The region has three natural lakes namely: – Turkana, Baringo and Bogoria. Water sports such as

boat and canoe tours have been introduced in Lakes Turkana and Baringo and attract non-

residents tourists.

Lake Bogoria in Baringo County is a popular tourist attraction site due to its active geyser. The

geysers produce stream reach in sulphur compounds, which are believed to be medicinal. In the

same area are not – which have been harnessed by the local noted industry.

Lake Baringo is, after Lake Turkana, the most northern of the Great Rift Valley lakes of Kenya,

with a surface area of about 130 sq km. The lake is fed by two rivers, El Molo and Ol Arabel and

has no obvious outlet, despite this it being one of the two freshwater lakes in the Rift Valley in

Kenya, the other being Lake Naivasha. It lies off the beaten track in a hot and dusty setting and

over 470 species of birds have been recorded there, occasionally including migrating flamingos.

The area is little affected by tourism and is situated at the southern end of a region of Kenya in-

habited largely by pastoralist ethnic groups including Chamus, Rendille, Turkana and Kalenjin.

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Fish stocks in the lake are now low and water levels have been reduced by droughts and over-

irrigation. The lake has several small islands, by far the largest being Ol Kokwe Island. The main

town on its shore is Loruk, while smaller settlements include Kampi ya Samaki.

Museum

Artifacts depicting the cultural history of the regions communities have been collected and are

played in museums. Visitors to museums are over 2000 annually. These museums are strategical-

ly located along the northwestern tourist circuit.

Ruko conservancy

Ruko Conservancy is a 19,000 hectare area to the North and East of Lake Baringo, consisting of

bushland and about 10 kms of shoreline.

Education in Baringo

Baringo County has 349 Primary Schools, 34 Secondary Schools and 6 Tertiary training institu-

tions (colleges, Polytechnics etc).

Enrolment of girls in Primary Schools is higher than that of boys while in secondary schools is

lower than that of boys. The primary school going age population is growing fairly rapidly. The

population of this age group was 80,230 in year 2009. The county will therefore need to invest in

the provision of education facilities to cater for the increasing demand bearing in mind that the

gross enrollment rate is 90%.

For the secondary school going age group, the population was estimated at 34,140 by 2009.

However

the gross enrollment rate is low at 25% which means that the facilities are underutilized

either due to high drop out rates or the fact that most students opt to join secondary schools

outside the county. Both the primary and secondary school going age constitute 35.9% of the to-

tal population.

Health in Baringo

Baringo County has 89 health facilities distributed all over the county. Most of them are under-

utilized due to lack of staff and equipment. The average distance to the nearest health centre is

15km.

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The most prevalent diseases in the county are Malaria, upper respiratory tract infection (URTI)

and Pneumonia. Thus programmes of Primary Health Care (PHC); and STI/STD including

HIV/AIDS should be put in place.

The causes of infant deaths are due to respiratory diseases, pneumonia, malaria, worms and diar-

rhoea. In the Valley deaths are mainly due to malaria, while in the Highlands deaths are due to

pneumonia and respiratory diseases. Another cause of mortality is the effect of HIV/AIDS lead-

ing to orphan-hood; single parents; child headed family, child labour and street children.

HIV/AIDs pandemic is not only a health problem but also a development issue as it encompasses

socio-economic and cultural dimensions. As in the rest of the country, prevalence is higher in the

Urban than in the rural areas with 90% of the infections being among the people aged between

15-49 years and 5-10% of the infections occurring in children under five years.

Culture/beliefs is promoting in-faction in salient way in the name of preserving culture. Female

Genital Mutilation (FGM) is also contributing to HIV spread.

OBSERVATIONS

The delegation left Nanyuki on 19th

June 2014 and spent the night at Nakuru town before

proceeding to Baringo in the following day. The delegation arrived in Baringo County on 20th

June 2014 in the morning. The officer in charge of the speaker’s office from the Baringo county

received the delegation and welcomed them after which they were introduced to each and every

department.In the process the delegation learnt from each and every department that;

There is an intership program in Baringo County and in each year they have different

interns.

In the Human Resource department; job evaluation has already been conducted its

awaiting the County Assembly Service Board approval.

There has been a well established welfare scheme for their staff and honourable members,

whereby all are members of LAP Fund.The welfare scheme also pays 50% of tution fees

for all staff enrolled in master programme.

Every chair of a committee has an office and the same office can be used by the members

of the same committee.

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The County during the 2013/2014 financial year purchased heavy earth moving machines

which they used to open up 200KM in the County.

The Committee on Transport during the briefing session

There is a fiscal analyst/principal budget officer in the county who work hand in hand with

the budget committee through offering technical advice whenever required.

The County has 12 sectoral committees.

The plenary hall in this county is well established just like that of the national assembly.

The county has toilet facilities which are friendly to the physically challenged.

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The County has introduced the physically challenged washrooms.

In the legislative department each clerk assistant has a, laptop, ipad, a research officer and

a harddisc.

There is a library which is well equiped with documents such as constitution, Baringo

County interim standing orders, PFM Act etc.

The County has two deputy clerks; one representing the legislative and committee

services and the other one representing the Admnistrative services

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Modern Baringo Assembly Chambers

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The Committee went around the offices including this modern Committee room.

The delegation having been introduced to all offices proceeded to the office of the Speaker Mr.

William Kamket who then welcomed and introduced them to the Transport and public works

Committee members from Baringo County, CEC, for transport, codinator and chief officer of

transport. Mr William Kamket later called upon the Laikipia County to introduce themselves

.The two Counties deliberated and exchanged ideas in the presence of the Baringo CECM, For

transport who informed the committee that his department has done a lot within that one year,

including the purcase of heaving machines, opening of new roads and also renovation of various

buildings within the County. The chairman of Baringo transport and public works committee

Hon.Richard Kambala ended the discussion by informing the delegation that they have identified

work done in this financial year to be visited by the delegation.

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The Committee held a brief meeting with the Hon. Speaker Mr. Koech and the minister in charge of transport

The following areas were identified for visit by the delegation;

Roads

Public works

Foot bridges

Energy

Street Lights

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Roads

In 2013/2014 financial year the county managed to purchase one bull dozer, two tipping trucks,

one drum steel roller, a mechanical excavator and a motor grader which they used to open a 250

km of new roads. According to the Baringo County Tranport and public works chair he informed

the delegation that with the machineries in place it reduced radically the cost of constructing

roads and also they assist in times of emergencies as the county will not be required to incur

much cost and time in procuring for the services of private companies.

In the same financial year they managed to grade and murram 700km using both labour

intensive and machanized method, with labour intensive 75km of new roads were opened where

each casual worker was paid Ksh 250 and the supervisor was paid Ksh 450.

In every ward a road was identified and prioritized by the area MCA for grading and murraming.

The committee was informed that more than 35 construction companies were engaged in

2013/2014 financial year in

The impact of having their own machinaries was confirmed by the Laikipia County transport and

Finance committee when they visited in Ribkwo ward in Tiaty Sub – County where the county

was able to open 75km of new road through community labour.

Public works

The county has modernized its buildings, upgraded Kabarnet stadium, constructed ECD

Classrooms,construction of dispensaries and upgrading of health centres, cattle dips, sale yards,

slaughter houses, Stalls and they ensured that work is done by specification and supervision is

done before payment was made.

The committed was priviledged to visit the following areas;

Governor’s office Modernization of office building

County Assembly Modernization of County Assembly

Health Construction of dispensaries and upgrading of health centres

Education Construction of ECD classrooms at various county primary schools

Youth and Sports Upgrading of Kabarnet stadium

Agriculture and Livestock Construction of slaughter houses

Construction of cattle dips

Construction of sale yards

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Foot bridges

The county has installed 6 Foot Bridge in 6 sub-counties. The aim of this was to reduce travel

distance of the residents accessing important public utilities like markets, hospitals and

schools.An example was the Waseges foot bridge which reduced a distance of more than 200km

to about 15km from Mochongoi to Waseges.

Energy

The county has a clean energy plant (BIOMAS) a fully funded project at Marigat funded and

developed by Cummins Company where they are using prosopis to produce electricity using

steam and pressure. The chairman Transport and Public works Committee from Baringo County

highlighted that this has reduced the destruction of the environment by the invasive plant species

which has caused problem to the community.

Street Lighting

The County has installed street lights in two (2No.) towns one being Kabarnet town and five

(5No.) centres within the county. This will improve the security in the towns and increase busi-

ness hours for our traders.The street mast have an advertising slot which can lease out to busi-

ness owners and thus it boosts revenue in the County. The committee was informed that it costed

the county Ksh 450,000 to purchase one bulb, post and solar panel.

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The joint Committee members examining one of the streetlight along the street.

We noticed that from one post to another is a distance of 40 metres and the county has started the

project in Kabarnet town where the County offices are located.

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The lighting system is designed to accommodate adverts, generating income for the County.

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Recommendations

The committee came up with the following recommendations that;

1. The two committees i.e Baringo and Laikipia County transport and public works as well

as the Finance committee do hold a joint meeting to discuss on the challenges facing

them and have a a way forward.

2. The two committee do a follow up with the National Parliament to ensure that the

Karandi Muchongoi road is tarmacked.

3. A mechanical and transport board be created to maintain and service the County

machineries.

4. The Laikipia County Government set a certain amount of money in its budget for major

flagship projects.

5. The Laikipia County Government initiate the solar street lighting in the major towns like

Nanyuki, Nyahururu,Rumuruti and Doldol so as to boost revenue through 24 hour

business and for security purposes.

6. That all projects be supervised and inspected before payment is done.

7. That all on –going projects be labelled by a project sign board citing the name of the

contractor, the funder of the project and the cost of that project.

8. That the County to put in place measures to purchase its own heavy earth moving

machines like graders , rollers, dozers etc to facilitate grading,murraming ,and digging

of boreholes in the County.

9. That the County Government do upgrade the parking lots with cabro bricks to enhance

revenue collection.

10. The county governmet ought to partner with the non-governmental Organizations and

the sponsors to install clean energy plant (Biomas plant) in the County for public

consumption so as to protect our enviroment.

11. The County government to work closely with Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KERRA) so

as to ease service delivery to the public and also to avoid duplication of work.

12. The public works office should ensure that all projects in the County are done by

specifications, so as to avoid sub-standard projects in the County which result to

mismanagement of County funds.

13. The two Counties continue benchmarking with each other so as continue sharing the

challenges they are facing and come with the way forward.