Reports indicate that Kenya’s Ministry of Water has stopped the exploration of the 250 billion cubic metres aquifer in Turkana, stating that it is economically unviable.
In a statement by the nation’s Water Secretary Samuel Alima, the water at the aquifer is unfit for exploration because of the high cost involved in desalination, which would cost Sh50 million a month.
Alima said; “The water at Lotikipi aquifer has high levels of salt that would require desalination before we can use it. However, the cost of this exercise is enormous.”
Recall that in 2019, Turkana County partnered with Almar Water, owned by a Saudi Arabian, to erect a desalination facility at a cost between Sh5 billion and Sh10 billion but the project did not materialize.
The Minister however said Kenya would be exploring ways of utilising that water in future in order to solve the water shortage in Turkana.