Government partners with Israeli firm in Sh500m water project

The Kenyan government has partnered with Israeli firms in a Sh500 million water project targeting counties.

Water Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa said experts from Israel will be involved in the project that aims to improve water quality in counties.

He said the project will focus on preventing and correcting turbidity (cloudy or murky water), which is a major challenge in most parts of the country.

Mr Wamalwa said turbidity in Garissa is about 14000NTU instead of the normal measurement of 5NTU.

Mr Wamalwa was speaking in Garissa town when he toured the Northern Water Services Board and the Garissa Water and Sewerage Company.

He was accompanied by experts from the Israeli-owned Mekorot Company, which will implement projects in Busia, Baringo and Garissa counties to ensure residents access clean water.

Other leaders present at the function were Water Service Trust Fund chairman Musikari Kombo, Garissa Township MP and National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale and Garissa Governor Nathif Jama.

Mr Wamalwa also said the ministry would sink a borehole at the Garissa University College to supplement the water currently provided by the county government.

“We will provide new water tanks to the university to ensure there is no water shortage at the institution,” he said.

Mr Duale welcomed the move to improve water quality in the county.

He said the constituency is faced with an acute water shortage, forcing residents to draw water from Tana River.