Sh20b plan to provide water, restore sewer system

By Bryan Tumwa and Grace Wekesa

Lake Victoria North Water Services Board (LVNWSB) has introduced a major plan to provide clean piped water and an elaborate sewer system to serve more than seven million people.

The Sh20.5 billion multi-faceted project will be phased over five years and will encompass areas where the board operates, which include Kakamega, Bungoma, Busia, Vihiga, Uasin Gishu, Trans Nzoia, Nandi and Elgeyo Marakwet counties.

The board chairperson Beatrice Sabana confirmed this yesterday, adding that the board was working towards ensuring accessibility to quality water and sewerage services in Kakamega.

Ten schemes

“Our strategic focus for the next five years will be to strengthen the institutional capacity of the board by delivering quality service. This begins by improving access to clean water and sanitation services,” said Sabana.

She said the plan was to develop ten new water supply schemes covering Vihiga County at a cost of Sh11.1 billion. The supplies will be established at Kipkaren Dam, Greater Lessos, Teldet Soio, Cherengany, Chesumei-Yala, Mosongo-Tenden, Kamoi and Malava gravity.

The board will spend an additional Sh4 billion to develop new sewerage installations at Mbale, Nambale, Mumias, Malaba, Moi’s Bridge/Matunda, Luanda, Mosoinot and Kimilili.

The Kwanza water supply will be rehabilitated to provide a sustainable source of water.

Other plans being targeted include overhauls of dilapidated sewer systems in Webuye, Kapsabet, Kitale and Busia at a cost of Sh1.2 billion.

The Deputy Director in charge of Water Services at the Ministry of Water and Irrigation, Gatere Kuria, launched the plan yesterday and announced it will run from 2013 to 2017.