Residents of Rusinga island in Homa Bay County have a reason to smile as they are set to benefit from a Sh30 million water project.
The project is being rolled out by the county government of Homa Bay in partnership with USaid Western Kenya Sanitation Project.
The project involves expanding an existing water project that only served a limited number of people.
It will involve replacement of two pumps at the intake and construction and installation of new intake infrastructure.
Governor Gladys Wanga and Western Kenya Sanitation Project Deputy Chief of Party Calvins Odera officiated the commissioning of the project in Rusinga Island today
Wanga said lack of sufficient funding hampered implementation of water projects that can serve all residents of the county.
“I pledged during campaigns that people should not walk for long when looking for water and I am committed to delivering on that,” she said.
The governor said women were the most affected by water access problems, adding, “They should not walk for long while searching for water.”
Odera said the project in Mbita is the first one that his organisation is undertaking in the eight counties they were operating in.
He said the contractor had four months to deliver on the project and that they expect adherence to the timelines.
Homa Bay Water and Sanitation Company (Homawaso) Managing Director Tom Nyonje said the Mbita Water project currently produces 1800 cubic meters of water in a day.
The project covers an area of 14 kilometers radius and benefits 20,000 people.
He said expansion of the project will benefit 1200 new clients from Rusinga Island and 1025 from Mbita.
County Executive for Water and Environment Joash Aloo said one of the reasons residents of Homa Bay struggle to access water is electricity bills.
“Relying on electricity to supply water is unsustainable. Homawasco currently owes Kenya Power up to Sh 19 million,” he said.
The solution to the problem is to resort to solar energy, added Aloo.
By Davis Langat
