Kapsowar Town and its environs are set to receive a long-awaited sewerage system and a new water treatment plant, marking a significant step towards improving water access and sanitation in the region.
The project, still in its planning stages, is a collaboration between the Lake Victoria North Water Works Development Agency (LVNWWDA), the North Rift Water Works Development Agency [NRWWDA], and the Cherangany Marakwet Water and Sanitation Company (CHEMAWASCO).
According to David Kimutai, Director at CHEMAWASCO, the current water treatment plant has been inadequate in serving the town’s growing population.
“The current plant is unable to meet the needs of many residents due to water rationing. Once the new plant is constructed, the amount of water available per cubic meter will increase, ensuring that residents have access to water 24 hours a day,” said Kimutai.
Environmental concerns have also been raised as part of the project planning. Cloud Lumumba, an environmentalist from LVNWWDA, explained the town’s need for an additional 2,500 cubic meters of water daily.
“For this to be possible, we must build a reliable sewerage system to handle the outflow. About 80% of the water intake is returned to the environment, so proper waste management is essential,” Lumumba said during a public participation forum in Kapsowar yesterday.
Lumumba also addressed the challenge of where to channel the wastewater, given the proposed increase in water supply.
“When the proposal for a larger treatment plant was put forward, the question arose about managing the waste. A sewerage system became a necessary part of the plan, and we have identified Ng’orng’oroi in Kapsowar as the main waste treatment site,” he added.
Vincent Otieno, an engineer at LVNWWDA, shed light on the technical aspects of the sewerage system, explaining that sanitation involves two key steps: onsite and offsite treatment.
He said, “We carefully considered the terrain and slope of the area, as the town slopes towards two prominent areas. Three locations were considered for the sewer system, Kapsowar, Kipsaiya, and Kapsumai. The main sewer line will run along the valley, with Ng’orng’oroi as the central treatment point.”
Otieno highlighted that Kapsowar has been prone to waterborne diseases due to lacking a sewerage system. “Without proper sanitation, waterborne diseases have become a concern. The sewer system will be crucial in addressing this issue.”
He also mentioned that while Arror was considered as a potential site for waste management, it was deemed unviable due to security concerns and its steep terrain.
“Arror’s steepness is ideal for water supply but not for sewage management,” Otieno noted, adding that plans to improve Arror’s water supply would still go ahead, including the installation of a large septic tank at a later date after they have improved its water supply.
In rural areas where the sewerage system may not reach, such as Lawich and Sisiya, ablution blocks with toilets and bathrooms will be built. “These ablution blocks will serve regions that are not covered by the main sewer lines,” Otieno explained.
Marakwet West Sub-county Ward Administrator, Patrick Maiyo, urged the residents to fully support the project, emphasizing the benefits it will bring to the town.
“If we embrace the sewerage system and water treatment plant, Kapsowar will be upgraded. With the town’s upgrade, many good things will follow,” he said.
Maiyo also addressed any potential conflicts, reassuring the public that any issues would be resolved amicably to avoid disruptions to the project. “If there are any squabbles, we will sit down and sort them out so that donors do not withdraw funding,” he added.
Kapsowar Ward Assistant County Commissioner, Jumbale Chibanza, emphasized the importance of compensating individuals affected by the project to avoid community conflicts.
“We must take compensation seriously to prevent disputes. As a regional government, we fully support the project,” Chibanza said.
Johnston Cheptoo, the Chairman of Kapsowar Town, expressed optimism about the positive changes the new sewerage system will bring.
“With this new sanitation project, our lives will improve. The town will be able to grow, and we can now build structures like flats and install flushable toilets, which were not possible before due to the lack of a proper sanitation system,” Cheptoo said.
Once completed, the new sewerage system and water treatment plant will serve the entire town of Kapsowar, with pipelines running through key areas including Kiplabai, Cheles, Gilgal, AIC Shammah, and Rorok Victory. Ng’orng’oroi will be the location but the exact site of the new treatment plant will be confirmed at a later stage, but the community is hopeful for the transformative impact this project will have on their daily lives.
