By E, KNA
Uasin Gishu County has recorded significant milestones in improving water access and management, offering renewed hope to thousands of residents in both urban and rural areas.
Over the past year, a total of 289.5 kilometres of new water pipeline has been laid, taking clean and safe water closer to communities that previously walked long distances in search of the precious commodity.
This expansion has directly benefited more than 12,000 households, who can now enjoy reliable water supply precisely at their doorsteps.
In addition, the County has invested in six major water supply schemes, boosting distribution efficiency and reducing pressure on overstretched community sources.
To strengthen resilience, especially in water-scarce regions, the County Administration has successfully drilled, equipped, and maintained 149 boreholes. Complementing the effort, 69 dams and several water pans have been rehabilitated, desilted, and maintained, ensuring that water is available for both domestic and livestock use as well as for irrigation even during dry spells.
The County has also placed focus on preserving natural sources. So far, over 80 springs have been protected and maintained, securing them for present and future generations.
These interventions have eased the burden on households and also improved livelihoods, with farmers, traders, and schools benefiting from a more dependable water supply.
County officials say the investment is part of a broader plan to align with Governor Jonathan Bii Chelilim’s ‘Nguzo Number Saba(7)’, which prioritises water distribution as a foundation for health, food security, and economic growth.
For generations, families in Uasin Gishu have dreamt of life’s most basic essentials—water, food, and shelter. While fertile soils and a vibrant agricultural economy have long secured food and livelihoods with water remaining elusive, locked away in silted dams and broken boreholes.
Today, that reality is changing. Across the County, a new wave of water distribution projects is transforming villages, schools, and towns, bringing taps to homes that once depended on donkeys and Jerri cans.
This turnaround is anchored in Governor Bii’s Administration, recognizing water as the backbone of both household wellbeing and agricultural prosperity, the County government has embarked on a robust plan to revive old infrastructure and expand new systems.
One of the flagship projects is in Ainabkoi, where the Chepng’oror Dam, built during the colonial era, had laid buried under years of accumulated silt. For over a decade, residents waited in vain for relief. Now, after a massive desilting exercise, the Dam is back to life and set to serve more than 5,000 residents for both domestic, livestock and agricultural use.
“We are grateful to the Governor for hearing our pleas,” said Emmanuel Kerring, a resident. “The water in this dam will enable our animals to drink, and we shall also use it for agriculture. We had waited for more than ten years for this day.”
Uasin Gishu is among the few counties with a designated water master, giving the administration technical capacity to undertake such large-scale restorations. More than 300 colonial-era dams across the county are now under review for desilting and rehabilitation.
Beyond dams, the county has turned its focus to borehole drilling and piped distribution, ensuring that towns and rural settlements alike access clean water. In Moiben Town, a newly installed storage tank has eased years of struggle.
Grace Chumba, who runs a hotel in Moiben, recalls the hardship. “We used to ferry water using donkeys,” she said. “Today, our taps are flowing. It is a dream come true not just for businesses like mine but for households and schools in the area.”
The Moiben supply, drawn from a nearby borehole, now serves not only residents but also nearby institutions, including schools and government offices. Local elders have hailed the project as proof of Governor Bii’s pre-election promise, fulfilled within two years in office.
True to that spirit, a campaign slogan coined in 2022 Meche Biko Beko (“water is life”) has become reality. For Gogo Sarah Mamet, who coined the phrase during the campaign trail, the slogan is more than political poetry.
“I said then that our communities were suffering because of lack of water,” Mamet recalled. “Today, my words have come to pass.”
Mamet herself is among the beneficiaries, after a borehole was sunk at her home in Karuna Meibeki. She has opened the tap to her neighbours and nearby schools, turning her homestead into a community watering point.
“I am just a custodian,” she said with a smile. “The real beneficiaries are the people around me. I thank the Governor for heeding my request three years ago.”
In Turbo Township, the county’s fastest growing urban center, the water story is real. Once dependent on costly tanker deliveries, residents are now enjoying piped water as new distribution networks open up.
“I used to buy water from vendors and could use up to Sh200 per day, this is now over, water flows,” said Agnes Waithera, a resident.
Governor Bii says this is only the beginning. “We are going to elevate all our six municipalities, including Turbo,” he said. “Our goal is to make sure that every household and every town in Uasin Gishu gets clean tap water.”
“These projects are vital to ensuring that every household has access to clean and reliable water,” said Engineer Bob Busungu. “By using solar power and involving the community, we are not only solving water access issues but also ensuring sustainable solutions for the future.”
With these efforts, Uasin Gishu is making significant progress toward its goal of achieving 60% piped water coverage, a move that will greatly improve public health and the overall quality of life for its residents.
Mr. Anthony Sitienei, CECM for Water, Environment, Natural Resources, Climate Change, and Energy, reaffirmed the County’s commitment to the long-term sustainability of all water projects.
“With the establishment of the Uasin Gishu Rural Water and Sanitation Company (URWASCO), we are confident that these projects will be well-managed after completion to ensure lasting benefits for our communities,” he said.
Various projects across the County are being implemented including, the Tumoge Spring and Sigilai Water Projects, to serve over 1000 households in Tulwet/Chuiyat Ward in Kesses Sub-county to boost access to clean water.
County Engineer, Francis Ndasaba, lauded the projects which he said marked a significant step in the County’s continued efforts to enhance water infrastructure and ensure reliable supply to local communities.
The Tumoge Spring Water Project involves the development of a natural spring, installation of a pump and mortar, and the construction of a sump. A 36-cubic-meter storage tank installed alongside solar-powered generators to support sustainable water distribution.
Similarly, the Sigilai Water Project includes the development of a shallow well, installation of pumping systems, and the integration of solar power technology to enhance efficiency. A 36-cubic-meter storage tank, rising main, and distribution system will also be put in place to ensure a steady water supply for the community.
In Turbo Sub- County, the Sambut Water Project is already taking shape. The project includes intake works, a solar-powered pumping system, an elevated steel-tank at Cheramei, and a distribution pipeline to supply Sambut Center and Juakali.
Governor Bii revealed that the County is on track to provide 60 per cent of homesteads across the County with access to piped water by 2025, aligning with the County’s ‘Nguzo Kumi development blueprint’ aimed at socio-economic empowerment.
Other key projects are the Chesogor and Chebarus Water projects In Megun Ward, Kapseret Sub-county.
The Chesogor Water Project, completed in the 2023/24 Financial Year at a cost of Sh5 million, has improved water access for local communities. The project involved rehabilitating intake works, installing a solar-powered pumping system, and constructing a 2.4-kilometre rising main pipeline, along with a 24-cubic-meter elevated storage tank. This infrastructure is now delivering clean water to hundreds of homes in the area.
A similar initiative is at Chebarus, with an equal budget of Sh 5 million. The project includes the installation of a solar-powered pumping system, a 1-kilometre distribution pipeline, and a 24-cubic-meter elevated storage tank.
These projects, in line with the County’s commitment to improving essential services, are expected to significantly ease the burden of water scarcity and improve the quality of life for residents. By integrating solar-powered systems, the County is also adopting sustainable and cost-effective water supply solutions.
To enhance water service delivery, the County Government operationalized the Uasin Gishu Rural Water and Sanitation Company (URWASCO), officially established by the County Assembly on July 3, 2023, to improve the management of water supply systems and ensure last-mile connectivity to households and institutions.
To ensure the longevity of these projects, the County is involving local communities in their management. Water user committees have been trained on how to form Water User Associations, draft by-laws, and adopt best practices for sustainable water resource management.