By J, KNA
Nakuru Governor Ms Susan Kihika has outlined the strides the county had realized since she took office with provision of healthcare, water and food security topping her list of major milestones in her scorecard.
In her state of the County address, governor Kahika said her administration was firmly on track in addressing long-standing challenges facing the residents saying key sector like the agriculture were now blossoming like never before.
Ms Kihika stated that residents are set to benefit from enhanced access to clean and improved sanitation services after the devolved unit channeled more resources towards expansion of the water and sewer system.
The Governor praised the Assembly for its cooperation, saying support from the MCAs has been instrumental in enabling the executive to implement its development agenda.
The devolved unit has already secured a deal to expand the water and sewerage infrastructure through a Sh5.6 billion grant from the German Development Bank via a project dubbed the ‘The Lake Nakuru Biodiversity Conservation Project’ which will start in a couple of months.
Governor Kihika disclosed that her administration has expanded its water network over the past year after completion of 132 water projects, allowing 17,070 additional households to access clean drinking water adding that as a result access to clean water has risen from 59.2 to 62.33 per cent.
Ms Kihika pointed out that 72 boreholes were drilled and more than 90 equipped while an additional 92 boreholes had been solarized to reduce electricity costs.
“Sanitation is also improving in Flamingo, Kabati, Paul Machanga and the Barnabas, Mwariki B and Neylan areas, where sewer expansions will benefit more than 17,000 residents. A new Sh70 million drilling rig acquired by my administration will help the county drill about 130 more boreholes next year,” she stated.
One of the highlights of the mega sewer system expansion project will be the decommissioning of the 63-year-old Kaloleni Waste Water Treatment Plant, which will be phased out and its waste directed to the upgraded Njoro Treatment Works which has the capacity to process 20,000 cubic meters of water per day.
She affirmed that while the projects involve expanding the water supply network and upgrading the aged water supply and dilapidated sewerage treatment system, they are also focusing on cleaning of water flowing into Lake Nakuru.
This is aimed at safeguarding the water body from pollution by preventing untreated water from flowing into it in a bid to secure the Lake’s delicate ecosystem and biodiversity.
Additionally, some 14 water kiosks have been constructed, and 7 natural springs protected while another 11 boreholes were restored to functionality, providing reliable water for an estimated 6,000 residents.
To improve sanitation, Governor Kihika said they had rehabilitated and connected 66 toilet blocks to the sewerage line at Flamingo Ward within Nakuru East Sub-County bringing relief to over 300 residents. In Naivasha’s Kabati area, the county completed a one-kilometer sewer line and 200 household connections.
“Further works included 300 metres of new sewer lines in Paul Machanga Estate and 1.45 kilometres of sewer extensions in USAID, TPH, and Agape estates, collectively improving sanitation reliability for more than 300 households,” she stated.
Among the key sanitation projects underway are the Barnabas–Mwariki B and Neylan sewer developments, which will provide safer waste water management for nearly 17,000 residents.
On the water supply front, major investments are ongoing in Longonot, Kamuyu, Muciringiri, Upper Mirera and Bahati, where communities have long faced chronic shortages.
She also cited the Chemususu Water Project, set to serve 60,000 residents, noting completion of the 41-kilometre Emkwen–Mogotio–KoiSamo line and progress on Nguso Rafiki, Molo lines.
To improve water project managements, the Governor pointed out that they were transferring community water projects to Water Service Providers (WSPs) owned by the devolved unit namely Nakuru Water and Sanitation Services Company (Nawassco), Nakuru Rural Water and Sanitation Services Company (Naruwasco) and Naivasha Water and Sanitation Services Company (Naiwascco).
She said the aim was to enhance efficient operations of water projects and minimize interruptions associated with community water projects.
The WSPs have since taken over management of Kabatini, Limuko and Amos water projects in Bahati and Mzee wa Nyama water project in Nakuru East.
The Lake Nakuru Biodiversity Conservation Project’ will encompass increasing water supply through new boreholes, rehabilitation of water reticulation systems and revitalization of pipelines, optimization of existing well fields and construction of water reservoirs.
The five-year project will be implemented by the Central Rift Valley Water Works Development Agency jointly with the Nakuru County Government.
The sewer network will be expanded and rehabilitated to handle more waste water.
“We intend to expand the sewerage system to various estates in Nakuru city which have for long been relying on alternative methods of waste disposal, including septic tanks. We will also upgrade our two existing treatment plants in Kivumbini and Mwariki,” added Ms Kihika.
Ms Kihika said expansion of the over 60-year-old sewerage system will come as a relief to residents who for decades have had to contend with a dilapidated system, already bursting under pressure due to population growth.
Only Milimani, Langa Langa, London, the town centre, Racecourse and Freehold estates have access to sewerage services.
A significant number of estates in the city are not linked to the sewer system. They include Bismarck, Kenya Industrial Training Institute (KITI), Kiamunyi and Ranges View, which adjoins the affluent Milimani.
Others that are not connected to the main sewer line include Ngata, Mwariki, Baruti, Langa Langa and the informal settlements of Kivumbini, Lake View, Kwa Rhoda, Kaptembwa, Kaloleni and Bondeni.
Residents in these estates rely on septic tanks. When their septic tanks are full, they hire exhausters which charge between Sh2, 000 and Sh3, 000 per trip to take out their waste to the main sewer treatment plant.
In virtually all these estates connected to the old sewerage system the sight of raw sewage is a common sight with sewer lines sometimes bursting and leaking, putting residents at risk of contracting diseases.
Ms Kihika observed that the upgrade of the sewerage system is set to reduce the impact of overloading that leads to leakages adding that since Nakuru had attained city status, sanitation had to be given priority in terms of having clean water and a proper sewerage system.
Under the project, the devolved unit will revamp the sewage system, to increase its coverage in Nakuru East, Nakuru West and other areas that were incorporated into Nakuru City.
The Governor said the County Government has unveiled environmental conservation programs to address climate change and safeguard the livelihoods of communities.
On agriculture Ms Kihika said her administration had pumped more resources in seeds, farm inputs and livestock support citing distribution of 34.5 million pyrethrum seedlings to 11,000 farmers, while pointing out the acreage under avocado had increased to 10,000 acres after 394,000 seedlings were dished out to farmers.
The Governor further stated that 20,166 coffee seedlings were supplied to farmers within the devolved unit while 42 metric tonnes of maize seed were given to 10,500 vulnerable households.
Ms Kihika said she was impressed that milk production had risen to 318 million litres, valued at Sh13.9 billion, which she attributed to establishment of 29 milk cooling plants, equipping dairy cooperatives with backup generators and vaccination of 155,267 cattle.
She pledged that a countywide Foot and Mouth Disease campaign will cover 800,000 cattle before the year ends.
On health Ms Kihika assured residents that her leadership will continue committing at least 40 per cent of its entire budget into the sector and noted that new Level 4 hospitals in Rongai and Kuresoi North sub counties each costing Sh248 million were undergoing construction, while four Sub-County hospitals in Maai Mahiu, Njoro, Molo and Subukia are now complete and serving residents.
“Gilgil and Elburgon Sub-County hospitals have new maternity units. Drug supply has stabilized following major reforms. The long-abandoned Trauma Centre at the Nakuru County Referral and Teaching Hospital, dormant since 2012, is finally back on track. Digital health records are being rolled out to improve efficiency and transparency in service delivery,” she added.
According to the Governor, the County, through the Imarisha Barabara program has graded 513 kilometres of roads, graveled 383 kilometres, built more than 10 bridges and installed 206 streetlights.
She noted that the new partnership with the National Youth Service (NYS) will further accelerate the opening and rehabilitation of roads across all the 55 wards.
Ms Kihika stated that the devolved unit had created more opportunities for business and pointed out the County Aggregation and Industrial Park in Njoro was 45 per cent complete, with Kshs 173 million invested.
“We have made strides in creating a business-friendly environment “The Naivasha Special Economic Zone now hosts 13 companies, with 19 more awaiting licensing, a total of 125 new cooperatives have been registered and 9 revived while through the Wezesha and Cooperative Funds, groups have accessed Kshs 62.3 million in affordable loans. More than 1,200 small businesses have benefited from the Biashara Boost program.”
Ms Kihika revealed that since she took office her administration has issued Sh952 million in bursaries, supporting more than 140,000 learners, while in Early Childhood Education 140 new classrooms have been completed, new toilet blocks, fencing and furniture installed and the school feeding program currently reaching 65,951 learners daily.
She expressed delight that enrollment in Vocational Training Centres continued to expand, growing from 4,419 to 6,350 trainees, a 43.7 percent increase, and more than 30 major projects completed, including new workshops and dormitories.
Under her watch, she noted more than 10,000 households have received title deeds and Infrastructure upgrades in Lakeview and London-Hilton are 83 per cent complete under Second Kenya Informal Settlements Improvement Project (KISIP II). She stated that courtesy of the project Naivasha now has a modern market serving 1,200 traders and 5.8 kilometres of newly upgraded roads.