The Migori County Government has assured residents that stalled and vandalized water projects will be restored and completed despite persistent cases of solar panel theft affecting several facilities across the county.
Speaking during a County Assembly committee oversight session, Migori County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Water and Energy, Mr. Silas Oduor, said the department had identified several non-operational projects implemented in previous years and initiated follow-up measures to ensure they are revived.
Mr. Oduor noted that the department remained committed to responding to concerns raised through oversight processes and ensuring that public investments deliver the intended benefits to residents.
He cited vandalism and theft of solar panels as one of the biggest challenges affecting water projects across the county, explaining that the Nyabikondo Water Project operated successfully from 2023 until January 2026 when all its solar panels were stolen, rendering the facility non-operational.
According to the official, similar incidents have affected several water projects in different parts of the county, forcing the department to repeatedly replace stolen equipment and allocate additional funds for restoration works.
Despite the setbacks, he said the county had continued to budget for the rehabilitation of affected projects and appealed to residents to help safeguard public infrastructure against vandalism and theft.
Mr. Oduor reported that the Bagdad Water Project is currently operational and serving residents as intended. He revealed that the county had planned to implement 84 water projects during the current financial year, of which 54 had already been completed.
The CECM expressed confidence that the department would achieve more than 90 percent project absorption by the close of the financial year, reaffirming the county government’s commitment to improving access to clean and safe water. He noted that efforts were underway to ensure residents can access a water point within a radius of 500 metres.
In addition to water infrastructure, Oduor said the department had installed more than 120 solar-powered street lights in markets across the county during the current financial year.
He added that approximately 15 kilometres of water pipelines had also been extended under the Migori Water and Sanitation Company network to enhance water access for more households.
The department further pledged to complete pending projects in the next financial year to improve reliability of water services across the county.
Meanwhile, a surveyor in the Department of Water, Mr. John Ocholla, said the county uses modern technology to identify underground water sources before drilling boreholes. He explained that experts assess factors such as water flow consistency and environmental conditions to increase success rates in borehole drilling projects.
Mr. Ocholla also clarified that government-supplied water is not free, noting that infrastructure development, maintenance and distribution require substantial financial resources funded through taxes and consumer payments.
He urged residents to protect water infrastructure and report suspicious activities to security agencies to help curb increasing cases of vandalism and solar panel theft.
by Margaret Vangilylin
