Residents oppose county’s Sh5m water project

Residents of two wards in Funyula Constituency have rejected a Sh5 million county government water project.

They complained the county never involved them when it initiated Onana Water Project that will supply water to Nangina and Nambuku/Namboboto wards.

They told County Executive for Water and Natural Resources Isaac Alukwe at Namundiri that unless the government engages them through public participation, they will not accept the project.

Efforts by Nangina and Nambuku/Namboboto ward representatives John Obwogo and Vincent Olumbe respectively to convince the residents to support the project did not bear fruit.

“The county government should have organised a public participation meeting for us to understand well the project and its benefits but that was not done,” said Benard Barasa, one of residents.

He added: ”We are not sure whether a feasibility study was done by environmental experts. Until that is done it will be difficulty for the project to take off.”

Irene Eduwa, another resident, also wondered why the county did not listen to the before the contractor started the project.

“We are likely not to get water as it is going to be pumped to far areas at our expense,” said Ms Eduwa.

Dr Alukwe said residents of the two wards were incited to reject the project.

The county executive said a team, with membership from the county and the public, will be constituted to find the way forward.

“If their worry is that when the water is pumped they are going to miss out, we are ready to build water kiosks and install pipes in the area to guarantee them water,” said Alukwe.

He said the the government will abide by the decision the committee will make. “They have been incited and misinformed by some people. The committee will guide us on the way forward,” he said.

Related Topics

Onana Water Project