NCBA Bank, Kenya in collaboration with the Lake Victoria South Water Works Development Agency, has donated 24 water tanks of 5,000-liter capacity worth Sh1.2Million to communities in Kisumu.
This is the first batch of the 200 tanks of 5,000-liter capacity, which the two organizations would be partnering to deliver to communities as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility.
Speaking on Friday during the handover ceremony of the 24 tanks at their offices in Kisumu, the Lake Victoria South Water Works Development Agency Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Ms. Jacklyne Kemunto, said the water tanks would be distributed to schools, market centres and hospitals, among other public places to help step up water harvesting and improve the general sanitation in the communities.
“This is in line with our mandate of working with communities to provide clean drinking water and improve sanitation of the communities,” she said.
Kemunto noted that her organization is partnering with NCBA Bank to provide free quality water facilities and technical support to community groups, thus enhancing water accessibility and promoting sustainability.
The CEO added that they have individual groups that have that serve the community in the area of water and sanitation and what they lack is technical support.
She said the Lake Victoria South Water Works Development Agency would partner with other organizations to continue to provide technical support to those groups and offer water quality facilities for free to ensure people have access to quality water.
NCBA Bank Group Director for Corporate and Investment Banking Mr. Tirus Mwithiga, said they would donate 200 tanks that were requested by Lake Victoria South Water Works Development Agency, as their mandate aligns with the bank`s vision of building a more sustainable and environmentally aware future.
“We have a programme known as: Change the Story, in which we are working closely with communities on matters environment and providing water, that is just part of that programme,” Mwathiga stated.
He observed that the beneficiaries have long struggled with limited access to clean water and a reliable supply, a challenge NCBA has come in to address through the donation.
“We are deepening our presence in the region by creating real value for communities through enhanced water storage capacity for schools, markets, and social institutions. This initiative addresses a fundamental need while laying the foundation for long-term regional development,” Mwithiga said.
He said that NCBA changes the story of communities through action that improves lives today and supports growth for generations to come and their partnership with Lake Victoria South Water Works Development Agency reflects a shared vision for sustainability, strengthening the foundation for long-term regional development.
The NCBA Change the Story initiative seeks to address some of Kenya’s most pressing challenges by committing financial resources annually to support our communities enabling progress in areas that matter including, environmental sustainability, financial empowerment, and education, tree planting and reducing environmental degradation.
The Chairman of the Board of Directors at the Lake Victoria South Water Works Development Agency Mr. Dan Owino said the programme seeks to enhance the accessibility of water to the deserving and undeserving communities.
“The programme will be targeting needy markets, schools, social centres and individuals who are ought to benefit from it and ours is to offer technical support and I am calling upon more partners to come on board,” he said.
Lake Victoria South Water Works Development Agency is one of the nine Water Works Development Agencies established in the new Water Act 2016. The Agency is currently under the Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation.
It covers eight counties of Bomet, Homa Bay, Kericho, Kisii, Kisumu, Migori, Nyamira and Siaya. The Agency’s 2019 area of jurisdiction has a population of about 8.8million people, which is nearly 17.4 per cent of Kenya’s population.
By Mabel Keya- Shikuku
