SHS. 90 MILLION PROJECT TO END WATER SHORTAGE IN KAKAMEGA LAUNCHED

Provision of safe and clean water to residents of Kakamega remains one of the priority projects of the County Government of Kakamega under the stewardship of H.E. Governor Wycliffe Ambetsa Oparanya. Through the Kakamega County Rural and Urban Water Sanitation Corporation (KACUWASCO), the County Government is implementing multi-million water projects in the county to realize this objective of piped clean and safe water to households.

In addition to other water projects already initiated by the county government, H.E. the governor Monday afternoon launched construction of a 5000 cubic metres water tank at Lirhanda, Shinyalu sub county at cost of Kshs. 90 million set to be completed in four months. The project will among other objectives ensure an improvement in water adequacy and enhance reliability of water supply in order to mitigate any existing water rationing.

Speaking at the launch, the governor said the project will serve as a reservoir for the Milimani water project situated at Milimani, Kakamega town. “Members of the community and institutions living within this area will also benefit from this project; pipes will be installed to peoples homes to rid off the lengthy process of applying for water reading meters,’’ he said. Besides the Lirhanda water project, the county government is also, with support of other partners, implementing Lugari-Musembe water project in Lugari, Misango hills and Lwakhupa water projects in Khwisero and Navakholo sub counties respectively as well as the Industrial park water project in Mumias.

Governor Oparanya also revealed that construction works on the Kakamega airstrip-Chepsonoi road were in the pipeline. The road is an important linkage of Vihiga and Kakamega counties through the tropical Kakamega rain forest. “The Cabinet Secretary for Interior and Coordination of National Security Dr. Fred Matiang’I and his Transport and Infrastructure counterpart James Macharia will soon be here to inspect national government projects within the county. This road among other stalled government projects are some of the important discussions we will be having with them,’’ the governor said. He welcomed the recent waiving of over Kshs. 65 billion owed to the government by sugar millers in the Western region terming it a positive move in the efforts to revive the ailing sector.

In attendance were deputy governor Prof. Philip Museve Kutima, Women Representative Elsie Muhanda, CECMs, Mambers of the County Assembly led by the deputy speaker Hon. Leonard Kasaya, Chief Officers, KACUWASCO CEO Abdikadir Mohammed & the Corporation’s chairman Prof. Laban Ayiro and the Ag. sub county administrator Mr. Joseph Wabuyabo among others.