Rift Valley agency to spend Sh3bn on water projects

The Rift Valley Waterworks Development Agency will undertake projects worth Sh3 billion in the current financial year to ensure the residents in the region have adequate water supply.

The funding is a joint initiative between national government and African Development Bank (ADB) which will fork out Sh1.5 billion towards some of the projects.

The Chief Executive Officer Hosea Wendot revealed on Thursday that some of the new infrastructural developments will be done in Narok and Elgeyo Marakwet counties.

“In all the sub counties and counties in our area of jurisdiction we have one or two water projects,” said Mr Wendot.

He also announced that the agency was planning to shift the Nakuru Biodiversity project at Lake Nakuru National Park to Njoro.

This project aims at improving sanitation in Nakuru County.

“We have just concluded the negotiations with a German donor KfWD who will partner with the national government. We should be signing the agreement before the end of the year,” he said.

He announced that some of the water projects in Nakuru, apart from the suspended multibillion Itare dam, other projects include the supply of 6 million litres of water from the Chemasusu water treatment in Baringo County.

WATER SHORTAGE

“This water will serve the residents of Rongai who have suffered water shortage for a long time,” said Mr Wendot.

Under priority programmes, the agency has identified several projects including boreholes, water pans and water for school initiative in all sub counties. He said the agency seeks to improve water supply in the region.

“Many people in the region do not ret adequate water supply and it is our obligation as a state agency to ensure they are supplied with clean water,” he added.

He announced that by 2022, the agency will have reached 80 per cent of the residents.

“At the moment, most of the counties we supply with water have an average coverage of between 30 – 40 per cent which is below our target,” said Mr Wendot.

FLOODS

He said the region faces challenge of drought, floods. He said some communities in Baringo, Nakuru and West Pokot were opposed to development projects.

He said water borne diseases are prevalent during dry season and that is why the agency want to ensure there is water during dry spells.

Mr Wendot said the government Big Four Agenda is pegged on water provision saying. “Despite the challenges we will ensure we supply water to ensure the government meets its development targets,” he said.