The County Government of Kakamega has commenced rehabilitation of the Jua Kali Water Scheme project in Kefinco to boost water access to over 5291 residents of Lurambi and its environs.
The project’s components include replacing 1.85 km of old dilapidated pipes with new High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) pipes in Kenfinco and a 1.36 km stretch for the Juakali water reticulation pipeline and replacing faulty valves.
The project, which is being undertaken by the Kakamega County Water and Sanitation Company in partnership with the USAID Western Kenya Water Project, is aimed at reducing non-revenue water.
Speaking during the launch, Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa said that the project seeks to increase the availability and access to water services while enabling better management of water resources under the clarion call ‘Amatsi Khumuliango’.
USAID Mission Director to Kenya and East Africa David Gosney noted that the launched last mile water connectivity is essential for communities to access clean and safe water.
He said that USAID works with County governments and sector stakeholders to strengthen governance to improve service delivery to citizens.
“We are an embassy that really focuses on partnerships between the American people and the Kenyan people; we have been here for 60 years, and one of the most important components of our partnership has been in health and water, and I heard about the great work that is going on here in Kakamega,” he noted.
The Governor, together with the USAID Mission Director, proceeded to the Kakamega General Hospital to inspect special programmes the county government and USAID are undertaking, especially on malaria prevention.
“This is an initiative that we are trying to address in maternal healthcare, and this being a malaria-prone area, USAID has come in handy to partner with Kakamega County in preventing the malaria infection in this region. And this is a project that we have signed a partnership with USAID for five years, costing us almost Sh100 million,” said Governor Barasa.
By Moses Wekesa
