The Sh. 1.3 billion Kipkarren Dam Water Supply project funded by the National Government in conjunction with the African Development Bank (ADB) will transform the lives of Eldoret town residents when complete.
The Project, to be constructed in Kapseret Constituency in Uasin Gishu County is expected to address the water shortage currently experienced in Eldoret Town by injecting an additional 23,000 cubic metres of water daily.
About 50,000 residents within Eldoret town and its environs will benefit from the projects being implemented by the Rift Valley Water Works Agency on behalf of the Lake Victoria North Water Works Development Agency.
The Kipkarren Dam Water Supply is one of the flagship projects of the Jubilee Government in Uasin Gishu County, according to the area County Commissioner (CC), Abdirisack Jaldesa.
The CC also observed that being one of the fastest growing towns with population increasing rapidly, water demand will continue to rise.
Jaldesa said adequate water provision will also play a critical role as Eldoret town aspires to be elevated to city status in the near future.
“Investments and businesses associated with city status will not survive without a sustainable source of water that is why the National Government prioritized the water project that is key to the pillars of the Big Four Agenda,” said the CC while chairing the County Development Implementation and Coordination Committee (CDICC).
The Committee, however, raised the red flag over the slow pace at which the project is being implemented by the contractor, noting that despite being paid more than Sh. 118m, the contractor was yet to fully mobilize the site. A report presented to the committee indicated that mobilization at the site was estimated at a poor 23.5 percent.’
The project commenced in June 2019 and is expected to be completed by March 2021, so far only 3.5 percent of the works has been done, the Committee noted.
During a site visit, the Committee impressed upon the contractor, Machiri Limited to pull up its socks and put more effort to recover lost time to ensure the project is completed as scheduled.
When complete the project will provide water to Kapseret, Langas and Kipkenyo Wards. The 23,000 cubic metres of water daily will serve 80 to 90 percent of Langas and 60 to 70 percent of Kapseret and Kipkenyo Wards.
According to Eldoret Water and Sanitation Company (ELDOWAS) Board Chairman, Andrew Chelogoi, demand for water to Eldoret Municipality is currently estimated at 60,000 cubic meters per day, against a production of 47,950 cubic meters daily.
In order to meet the high demand for water, Chelogoi said ELDOWAS also plans to undertake several other projects to supplement the Kipkarren Dam water supply project.
The projects the company intends to undertake include Kerita Dam that is expected to produce 18,000 cubic metres of water per day, Two Rivers Dam (70,000 m3 daily), Elagerini Dam (9,000 m3 per day), and Endaragwa Dam which is expected to produce 17,000 m3 per day once complete.
The town currently relies mainly on Chebara Dam whose source is in Elgeyo-Marakwet County, producing 18 000 m3 of water per day.
By Kiptanui Cherono
