Kisumu lagging behind in development of a sewerage system

KISUMU: Out of three counties funded by Lake Victoria Environmental Management Programme II (LVEMP II) to develop sewerage treatment plants, Kisumu is lagging behind.

This is despite its ever increasing population that needs a proper sewerage facility for waste management.

According to LVEMP II National Coordinator Franscisca Owuor, Kisumu is lagging behind with a completion rate of over 50 percent compared to Homa Bay and Bomet counties where similar projects are being run.

The project being run in Kisumu, Homa Bay and Bomet counties are almost completed with Bomet ahead with a completion rate of 98 per cent. Homa Bay's Sewer plant is 95 per cent complete while Kisumu is 50 per cent done," she said.

LVEMPII set aside over Sh500 million in late 2013 to cater for the development and rehabilitation of sewer systems in the three counties in a bid to reduce environmental stress brought about by pollution.

Owuor said they have also managed to construct 17 bio toilets in schools, beaches and few market centres whereby the waste are converted into biogas for cooking.

"We are also doing rehabilitation for wetlands in Kericho, Kisumu and Nandi centres and conducting water monitory for fishing grounds," she said.

Owuor was speaking during the commissioning of seven exhausters purchased at Sh65 million to reduce pollution in seven counties without proper sewerage facilities.

The function was officiated by Environment Cabinet Secretary Prof Judi Wakhungu.

The counties set to benefit from the exhausters are Kisumu, Homa Bay, Bomet, Kericho, Kisii, Migori and Siaya.

Prof Wakhungu also officially opened the Kisumu Water Quality Laboratory rehabilitated at a cost of Sh18, 416,914.

"The rehabilitated Kisumu Quality laboratory block being launched today has multiple benefits to the national and county governments alongside East African Community Partners," she said.

The rehabilitated laboratory was destroyed during the post election violence that took place in 2007.

"The water quality lab with its state-of-the-art equipment will help in analysing portable water, effluent from sewers and pesticides. It will also help safeguard Lake Victoria by measuring pollution levels," she added.

She called upon the county governments, the custodians of these facilities, to ensure the investments are not misused.

"They must provide for operations and maintenance in their budgets," Wakhungu said.