Kakamega county government is implementing a water connectivity project across the county to improve accessibility to the essential commodity.
The Chief Officer (CO) for Water Resources Eng. Joseck Maloba said there were ongoing works in Mumias East, Mumias West and Matungu Sub-Counties to be implemented in two phases.
He said the first phase would see over 20,000 households connected by the end of October 2020 at a cost of Sh14 million.
“The cost of piping water from the existing supply to households is high that is why we have procured pipes that are being distributed to residential areas to reduce the expenses of connection which would have been incurred by residents,” Eng. Maloba noted.
The Chief Officer said the exercise of excavation of trenches and laying of the pipes was being undertaken by County Youth and Women Empowerment Programme (CYSWEP) beneficiaries under the supervision of Community Area Administrators in collaboration with the respective Members of County Assembly (MCAs).
The Engineer said they would consider drilling boreholes to supplement the existing reservoirs to ensure sustainable and sufficient supply of water in the County.
The county administration has allocated Sh70 million for the second phase targeting 99,000 households.
“This is a phased programme and those who will miss out during the first phase will automatically be captured in the second phase,” he assured.
By Sammy Mwibanda
