Kisii County government has set aside Sh 50million to revive a stalled water project in a major effort geared towards ending perennial water shortage in the county.
This comes not long after the National Government in conjunction with the German government constructed a major treatment water project at a cost of over Sh 1billion at Kegati in
Nyaribari Chache Constituency of the county.
Presidential Delivery Director Melchizedeck Onguso said the project being revived, which had stalled in the year 2011 is targeted to be complete and operational by December this year will especially serve the residents of Keumbu in the constituency noting it has a capacity of 12,000 cubic metres of water per day.
Speaking at the project site over the weekend, Onguso said the revival of the project will be done through the Lake Victoria South Water Development Agency which was also mandated to oversee expansion of the major completed project and the expansion of the sewerage system which were done earlier at a cost of sh.1.8b.
However according to Onguso, the river Kuja which is meant to feed the two projects could be depleted by the year 2030, but Bunyunyu Dam in the neighboring Nyamira county will ensure sufficient supply of the commodity to the projects thereafter.
This comes ahead of the much anticipated Mashujaa day National Celebrations at Gusii stadium in Kisii where the president is expected to launch the two projects with the major one having a capacity of 27,000 cubic metres (27million liters) per day.
Onguso noted that the revival of the stalled water project was one of those initiated by the local County Development Implementation and Coordination Committee (CDICC) which is chaired by the County commissioner.
Others include the Airstrip at Suneka in Bonchari Constituency whose phase one was completed at a cost of Sh 53 million while phase two is scheduled to be completed in the next 10 months at a cost of Sh134 million
He also cited various roads whose construction was unlocked by CDICC including a 26km road in Bonchari constituency which had to be assigned a new contractor, 75km road in Bomachoge Chache where the contractor terminated un- procedurally, and Nyakoe –Marani road where the contractor was found to be absent from the site.
On Digital Learning Programme, Onguso said out of the 698 public schools in Kisii County, only 14 had not received the devices because they were not registered by the year 2016 but noted that those left out could seek assistance through the chiefs and Nyumba Kumi structure.
The presidential Delivery Director noted that the stadium where Mashujaa celebrations will be hosted was already in shape thanks the efforts by the national government in conjunction with the county government where the national government pumped in Sh210m for
revamping the arena.
The presidential Delivery Director is one of the members of CDICC which was formed by President Kenyatta to among others co-ordinate the implementation of government’s projects within the county using a multi-sectoral approach.
By Clinton Nyamumbo and Jane Naitore