The Migori county government has set an ambitious target to increase water connectivity to over 80 per cent by 2030 as part of its commitment to improving access to clean and safe drinking water for residents.
Speaking during the flagging-off ceremony for the distribution of water tanks to Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) schools, the County Executive for Water and Energy, Silas Owuor, said the county had already made significant progress in improving water connectivity from about 40 per cent to approximately 65 per cent within the last two to three years.
Owuor noted that the county, under the leadership of Governor Dr. Ochilo Ayacko, is prioritizing water provision as a key devolved function, especially for learning institutions and other public facilities.
“Today we are distributing 40 water tanks to ECDE schools, with each ward benefiting from one tank. This is part of our mandate to ensure young learners access clean and safe drinking water,” said Owuor.
Each tank has a capacity of 10,000 litres and costs approximately Sh85,000, translating to a total investment of about Sh3.4 million. The tanks were procured using funds from the previous financial year, with plans already in place to distribute another 40 tanks in the current 2025/2026 financial year, again ensuring equal allocation across all wards.
The county executive added that the county plans to supply more than 400 water tanks by 2032, targeting not only schools, but also health facilities and community-owned institutions such as churches.
Owuor urged the beneficiary schools to take good care of the tanks, noting that with proper maintenance, the assets have a lifespan of over 10 years and are key to ensuring value for money.
He further revealed that Migori County is also planning to roll out additional water projects including sinking boreholes across all wards, starting early next year, in line with the county’s long-term water strategy.
“We are optimistic that by 2030, no resident of Migori County will lack access to water. This is the expectation and vision of the current county administration,” he said.
Owour also lauded the county leadership for strong governance, citing recent national rankings that placed Migori among the top counties being run in accordance with the Constitution and the law.
The distribution exercise was carried out with the support of area Members of County Assembly (MCAs), who were involved in identifying the beneficiary ECDE schools across the wards.
By Polycarp Ochieng and George Agimba
