COUNTY EMBARKS ON WATER CONNECTIVITY PROGRAM

In actualising one of Governor Wycliffe Ambetsa Oparanya’s flagship projects of provision of clean and safe drinking water to the residents of Kakamega County, the Ministry of Water, Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change has started implementing Water Connectivity Program across the County to enhance access to the essential commodity.

The Chief Officer for Water Eng. Joseck Maloba toured Mumias East, Mumias West and Matungu Sub-Counties to inspect the ongoing works being rolled out in two phases. He said the first phase will see over 20,000 households connected by the end of October 2020 at a cost of Shs14 million.

“The cost of piping water from the existing supply to households is quite high that is why the Government procured pipes that are being distributed to residential areas to reduce the expenses of connection which would have been incurred by residents,” Eng. Maloba noted.

Eng. Maloba said the exercise of excavation of trenches and laying the pipes is being undertaken by County Youth and Women Empowerment Program (CYSWEP) beneficiaries under the supervision of Community Area Administrators in collaboration with the respective Members of County Assembly (MCAs).

He however cautioned the supervisors against exhausting the water schemes and advised them to drill boreholes so as to supplement the existing reservoirs to ensure sustainable and sufficient supply of water in the County.

The Government has allocated Sh70 million for the second phase targetting 99,000 households.

“This is a phased approach programme; those who will miss out during the first phase will automatically be captured in the second phase,” he assured.

Eng. Maloba was accompanied by Members of County Assembly, Chief Superintendent of Water Mr. John Atwa, Matungu Sub-County Water Officer Mr. John Simiyu and Community Area Administrators, among other government officers.