Water shortage to be curbed in Homabay town

Persistent water shortage which has plagued Homa Bay town for many years will be addressed by Sh1.1 billion project funded by a grant from the Belgian government.
The project manager, Eric Bastion said the project once completed is expected to pump 8000 cubic meters of water per day for the town’s consumers who are currently served by an old system which provides only 1000 cubic meters per day.
The Manager, who was briefing the County project implementation committee chaired by County Commissioner Macharia Irungu Thursday, said the project will be completed in the next two years.
Bastion however expressed concern that the pace of the project implementation had been hampered by the slow progress of obtaining tax exemption from the National Treasury for imported equipments for the plant.
“We are appealing to the Kenyan government to fast track the tax exemption process to curb further delays, we have made several follow ups including seeking intervention from Belgium Ambassador to Kenya without much progress,” he lamented.
On his part, Irungu thanked the Belgian government for the grant and assured the project implementers of his committee’s total support.
The Director of Presidential Delivery Unit for Homa Bay, Kisumu and Siaya Counties Gerishion Wangira said the project will go a long way in reducing waterborne diseases in the County.
Homa Bay County Water Engineer Paul Agwanda said Lake Victoria Water Services Board through the support of Belgian government was also drilling two boreholes in Rodi Kopany trading center to provide a reliable water source for the locals.
By Davis Langat