The government has commenced construction works on the rehabilitation of the Sh1.3 billion Dandora waste water treatment plant in Ruai, Nairobi.
The project, under the Nairobi Water Sewerage project will include the construction of seven ponds of 20,000 cubic metres capacity valued at Sh I billion and the erection of a perimeter wall fence on the 4,000 acres of land at a cost of Sh300million.
Eng. Kitheko Mutonga, Acting Manager Sewerage and Sanitation Works Development from the Athi Water Works said the expansion of the sewerage treatment plant will boost the existing water sewerage ponds to serve the high population of Nairobi County.
“Athi Works has already received the funds from the government and the progress of the works is at 60 per cent complete,” said Mutonga.
He also announced that the construction works of the raw and treated water pipeline project along Thika Dam to Kigoro water treatment plant to Gigiri tanks on a 55 km stretch approximated at a cost of Sh 8.05 billion will commence on Monday, August 16th this year.
In Nairobi County the construction works on the 3.5 km stretch will start from Regis School in Runda to Githogoro and end at Gigiri tanks.
Eng. Mutonga was briefing the Nairobi County Development Implementation Coordination Committee members Wednesday, led by the Secretary of the Committee Larry Mulomi from the President’s Delivery Unit and Ms Rukia Chitechi, the Highridge Senior Assistant County Commissioner, who were on an inspection visit of on-going government funded water projects in the county.
He stated that the pipeline will be getting water from Ndakaini dam in Murang’a and transmit it to Nairobi from the Northern collector tunnel from a 1.2 diameter steel pipe to Gigiri tanks, adding that a 22 km stretch from Ndakaini to Ngethu in Kiambu County has already been completed.
“There is an existing pipeline from Ngethu in Gatundu North that goes to Runda-Githogoro to Gigiri tanks and we are adding an extra pipeline from Ndakaini dam to Gigiri for bulk water transmission,” he added.
Eng. Mutonga however, noted that the pipeline works along the Northern bypass in Nairobi County is currently having challenges of encroachment of wayleaves by traders and a private developer, an issue he said needs to be urgently addressed to avoid delays in commencement and completion of the project.
“The contractor has already started mobilizing to start works next week, this requires that people who have encroached road corridors in Murang’a, Kiambu and Nairobi Counties where the works will take place to move out immediately,” said Mutonga.
Ms Chitechi said her office will engage the people who have encroached wayleaves to allow the contractor undertake works without hitches.
The National Lands Commission (NLC) Principal Land Adjudication Officer Justus Matheka said the Commission has already received the first batch of funds from the National Water Pipeline for compensating people who have encroached and constructed semi-permanent structures on the 2.5km stretch wayleaves in Githogoro village.
By Bernadette Khaduli
