Boost for residents as Homa Bay pumps Sh15m into water project

HOMAWASCO Managing Director Dan Oketch (left), Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga (centre) and  Dunea Duin & Water CEO Wim Drossaert at the project's construction site at Koginga beach in Homa Bay town. [James Omoro, Standard]

The fight against perennial shortage which has hit various parts of Homa Bay town for about 10 years has got impetus following the implementation of a water project worth Sh15m.

The project will boost the water supply in Homa Bay town from the current 4 million litres to 5 million litres per day. 

It involves the installation of water pipes from the Homa Bay Cluster Water project into various estates where clean water has been a rare commodity.  

The project is being undertaken by Homa Bay County Water and Sanitation Company (HOMAWASCO) in partnership with a Netherlands-based water company, Dunea Duin & Water.

The project is expected to relieve residents of Makongeni, Got Raburo, Kapita and Rang’wena who lacked clean water for about 10 years.

Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga, the CEO of Dunea Duin & Water, Wim Drossaert and HOMAWASCO Managing Director Dan Oketch toured the construction of the work.

The site where the Homa Bay Cluster Water project is being implemented at Koginga beach in Homa Bay town. [James Omoro, Standard]

Wanga said the construction work will be completed by the end of next month.

She said the project will help her administration in ending the perennial water shortage which had afflicted many residents of the town.

“Residents of Kapita, Makongeni, Got Rabuor and Rang’wena have lacked water for many years. We expect construction of this project to end by the end of next month and this will solve the perennial water shortage which has affected them,” Wanga said.

The Governor urged residents of Homa Bay to be committed to paying water bills. She said this will enable the county government to boost the level of water supply in the county.

She expressed concerns over illicit water connections in which some residents evade paying water bills.

“I want to tell the people of Homa Bay to pay water bills. This will enable the county government to get revenue for maintaining water supply,” Wanga said.

She said her administration is working round the clock to deal with water shortage in the county.

Homa Bay Water Treatment Works. [James Omoro, Standard]

Drossaert said their objective is to enable Homa Bay residents to get water well.

“We are trying our best to ensure Homa Bay residents get adequate water through this programme,” Drossaert said.

Oketch said the project will bridge the gap in water supply in Homa  Bay town and its environs.

“We are supposed to supply 8.8 million litres of water per day but we are producing only 4 million litres due to certain challenges. Our objective of increasing the water supply with 1 million litres will bridge the gap hence more residents will get clean water,” Oketch said.