World Bank Mission in Bomet to Evaluate millions Climate Water Projects
On day one of the tour, the delegation visited Emitiot Water Pan in Bomet East and Saramek Water Pan in Chepalungu sub-county – two flagship projects funded through FLLoCA.
Photo: Courtesy.
By Anneth Chepngetich
A high-level World Bank Support Mission has kicked off a two-day field assessment in Bomet County to evaluate the progress of climate-funded water projects being implemented under the Financing Locally-Led Climate Action (FLLoCA) Program.
The mission, which brings together World Bank officials, national government representatives and county technical staff, is meant to track implementation, strengthen local governance of climate investments and ensure long-term sustainability of community water infrastructure.
On day one of the tour, the delegation visited Emitiot Water Pan in Bomet East and Saramek Water Pan in Chepalungu sub-county – two flagship projects funded through FLLoCA. The team inspected construction works, assessed water retention capacity and held discussions with local residents and project management committees on how the pans are transforming livelihoods.
The water pans are designed to address chronic water shortages that have hit the region during prolonged dry spells. Once fully operational, they are expected to provide reliable water for domestic use, livestock and small-scale irrigation, reducing the distance women and children walk in search of water and boosting food security.
According to county officials, FLLoCA is not just about building infrastructure but about putting communities at the centre of climate action. The program empowers counties to plan, budget and implement locally-led solutions to climate change while building resilience against floods, drought and environmental degradation.
“The FLLoCA Program has changed how we approach climate adaptation. Communities identify their most urgent needs, and we support them to deliver,” a county official accompanying the mission said. “These water pans are a direct response to what residents asked for.”
The World Bank team is also reviewing governance structures, including how procurement was done, how funds were utilized, community participation, environmental and social safeguards, and maintenance plans to ensure the projects last beyond the donor funding cycle.
Bomet is among counties benefiting from the multi-billion shilling FLLoCA program, a partnership between the Government of Kenya, the World Bank, and other development partners including Denmark, Sweden and Germany. The program channels climate finance directly to counties and wards to support locally-driven adaptation projects.
The evaluation mission is expected to produce a set of recommendations to improve accountability, quality of works and community ownership of projects. The findings will also shape future investments under FLLoCA Phase 2, with focus on scaling up successful interventions.
Residents in Emitiot and Saramek expressed optimism, saying the pans have already started collecting water during recent rains and will be a game-changer for their villages.
The mission continues on Wednesday with visits to other FLLoCA sites in the county.
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