Residents of Adega in Rachuonyo East Sub-County are poised for a major improvement in access to clean and safe water after the launch of a solar-powered borehole project, spearheaded by the national government.
The multimillion-shilling initiative installed at Adega Mixed Senior School is expected to ease the burden on schoolchildren and households that have depended on the river Awach Kibuon for their daily water needs, despite the health risks and flooding during heavy rains.
The project will improve access to water for domestic and institutional use for Adega School and the surrounding community, while reducing health and safety risks associated with unsafe water sources.
Speaking during the project launch, Government Delivery Unit Director Silvance Osele said the initiative was part of the government’s efforts to improve access to essential services in local communities, in line with President William Ruto’s development agenda.
Osele said the government had promised to return to the area and drill a borehole during a visit in December last year, adding that the successful completion of the initial test pumping phase marked a significant milestone towards fulfilling that commitment.
“The first phase involved test pumping, which has been completed, and we have confirmed the availability of water. We have seen there is clear water with a capacity to do 192,000 cubic metres per day,” Osele said, expressing optimism that the project would transform the lives of residents.
The water would be pumped using solar energy, reducing dependence on electricity and helping to minimise operational costs.
The project will also include an elevated water storage tank with a reported capacity of 10,000 litres, as well as a water kiosk to serve residents.
According to Osele, households capable of installing individual water pipes to their homes will also have the opportunity to access the supply directly.
Once the remaining civil works are completed, he said, the community will benefit from a more reliable supply without having to make dangerous journeys to the river.
Osele pointed out that residents, particularly schoolchildren, had previously been forced to fetch water from the river whose water was often contaminated and appeared reddish in colour, posing health risks.
He said the situation had not only exposed residents to health risks but had also affected learners’ welfare and the time available for their studies.
The director emphasised that the project would help reduce the dangers associated with crossing or approaching the river during heavy rainfall, when water levels can rise unexpectedly and cause dangerous flooding, adding that learners will now enjoy improved access to water for drinking, sanitation, bathing and other essential needs.
He further noted that the intervention was timely, amid concerns about El Niño-related rains, which could increase the risk of flooding in the area.
Similar water projects were being pursued in other areas, including Kotienditi Mixed School with plans to extend assistance to other schools.
Osele noted that the government was also working to improve road accessibility during the rainy season, citing the Sondu–Ramula road, which he said had undergone grading and rolling along a 23-kilometre stretch.
Adega Senior School Principal Samuel Oginga welcomed the initiative, describing it as a major milestone for the institution and the surrounding community.
Oginga said the school had faced challenges accessing adequate water, forcing learners to depend on the river and other unreliable sources.
He said the availability of water within the school would improve sanitation, enhance students’ comfort and create a better learning environment.
“As a school, this is a remarkable day for us. Water is life, and we are grateful for the efforts made to ensure that this project becomes a reality,” Oginga said.
He added that the school’s sporting activities would also benefit, as learners would be able to bathe and clean up after games without relying on distant water sources.
Oginga said the project would particularly protect younger learners, who are more vulnerable when attempting to collect water from rivers during the rainy season.
He urged the community to make good use of the facility, saying reliable access to water would improve the school’s daily operations and benefit households beyond the institution.
Learners echoed that the water project would save them time previously spent collecting water and allow them to concentrate more on their studies.
Melvin Awuor, a grade nine learner from Adega, thanked the government for bringing the project to their community.
She said access to water within the school would reduce the need for learners to travel to the river, where they risk being swept away by strong currents during floods.
“We thank the government for bringing us water because it will help us avoid going to the river to fetch water and give us enough time to study,” she said.
By Sitna Omar
