The National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) has sealed a historic partnership with Kitui County Government, Help a Child Africa (HACA), and Dorcas Aid International to promote holistic community development and resilience in Athi and Ikutha Wards in Kitui County.
The partnership was signed on Friday, October 18, 2024, by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the Office of the County Governor in Kitui.
NCCK General Secretary Rev. Canon Chris Kinyanjui, HACA Country Director Rachel Kigame, Dorcas Aid Country Director Edwin Onyancha, and Kitui Governor HE Dr. Julius Malombe were all in attendance. Also present were local clergy and members of the County Executive Committee.
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Governor Malombe expressed confidence in the collaboration, highlighting its potential to impact communities.
“We welcome the signing of this MOU which will us to co-create projects and initiatives as partners for the benefit of the people”, said Governor Malombe.
Under the MoU, NCCK will lead efforts in environmental protection, water access, sustainable livelihoods, and child-centred community development. The partners will ensure combined resource mobilization and collaborative project creation to address major regional concerns such as water scarcity and food security.
The County Government of Kitui will play a critical role in ensuring the partnership’s success by providing coordination, technical assistance in project design and supervision, and project policy and legal frameworks.
Furthermore, the county has agreed to provide space for the creation of a botanical garden and plant sanctuary, which will help to promote the project’s conservation goals.
NCCK’s main initiatives include the construction of 13 sand dams and desilting of 13 earth dams to increase water access. In addition, water piping projects will be carried out to connect settlements to reliable water sources.
To improve food security, NCCK will train 2,160 households in conservation agriculture and provide them with seeds and planting tools.
The organization will also aid in establishing 72 self-help groups and 108 Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs) and encourage child protection and involvement.
The NCCK’s initiatives are funded by the Canadian Foodgrains Bank (CFGB) through the United Church of Canada (UCC), providing vital backing for the project.
HACA, on their part, will support the well-being of children by driving social-economic development and empowerment, in addition to supporting schooling for children in the community.
“We came to Kitui with a focus on supporting children and education, but have realized that the programming was not working since families spend so much time looking for water,” Rachel Kigame
, HACA Country Director.
Dorcas Aid International will bolster community resilience by protecting natural habitats and training community members in tree planting, further enhancing environmental conservation efforts in the region.
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