Kakamega County has enabled 6400 households in rural areas to access clean and safe drinking water through Governor Fernandes Barasa’s Clarion Call, ‘Amatsi Khumuliango’ which means Water at the Doorstep.
The Programme has improved water access to 74 per cent in the county from 62 per cent in 2022, with a target set to increase water accessibility to over 90 per cent by 2027.
The County Executive Committee Member in Charge of Environment, Water, Natural Resources, and Climate Change, Peninah Mukabane, says the county needs at least Sh5 billion to ensure all residents access water.
“When you consider our annual budget, we are not able to meet the Sh5 billion in five years, so the national government, through the Lake Victoria North Water Works Development Agency (LVNWWDA), has come up with several projects that will help us to provide water to our people,” she noted.
Mukabane said despite financial constraints, the county government has also identified partners who have heeded the Governor’s clarion call to extend water access to communities and schools through the drilling of boreholes and the protection of springs.
“There are major investments in water infrastructure being done by the Ministry of Water and Sanitation and various partners like the USAID Western Kenya Water Project, Lake Victoria North Water Works Development Agency, The Water Project, Western Water Sanitation Forum (Wewasafo), and the Believers Revival Mission,” she disclosed.
One of the partners, The Water Project, which is a non-Governmental Organization (NGO) operating in Western Kenya, has drilled 33 boreholes in schools and communities in Kakamega while also protecting and maintaining springs found in various parts of the county.
Believers Revival Mission, another partner, is supporting the county government by drilling over 36 boreholes in various parts of the county that will enable community members to access water.
“These partners are constructing boreholes and installing hand pumps. As the county government, we will further install electrical pumps which are hybrid and can be run by electricity, and we will also install solar panels so that people can get water for 24 hours,” she explained.
The CECM said that in the event that a borehole has been drilled in a school, the county government will construct a Water Kiosk nearby for the community to tap water from the school’s borehole.
She added that the County government is enhancing budgetary allocation and partnering with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Western Kenya Water Project in order to scale up last-mile water connectivity in Kakamega town, Mumias town, Navakholo Lwakhupa, and the Likuyani Lumino Water Project.
Other targeted projects in the last mile water connectivity are Mulwanda Water project in Khwisero, Misango Water project, Mutao Shavunga in Ikolomani Makhokho water project, Shirere, Mahiakalo, Lukhume in Malava, Khuvasali in Malava, Musembe in Lugari, Kholera in Matungu, Matawa in Matungu, Ekero in Mumias East, Wanga Technical, Obulamu water project in Navakholo, Matunda Water Project in Likuyani, Mukoe Water Project in Butere, and Marenyo Water Project in Butere.
“We also have the USAID Boresha Jamii, who are helping us on matters of sanitation. You know, when we are talking about Amatsi Khumuliango, we are ensuring sustainability for the future generation and also looking at sanitation and sewerage,” the CECM explained.
Mukabane, however, decried the destruction of water pipes during road construction and the increasing theft of solar pumps, water pumps, and other water utilities, which derails the gains made in the provision of water to county residents.
By Moses Wekesa
