The government has in the past decade improved provision of clean and portable water to Kenyans by over 240%, government spokesman Col. (Rtd.) Cyrus Oguna has said.
He said that the last 10 years under the Jubilee administration has seen water supply coverage increase from 30%, when it took over the mantle to lead the country in 2013, to the current 72%.
Speaking at the Ugunja – Sega- Ukwala water supply project in Siaya county, Oguna expressed the government’s commitment in ensuring that Kenyans access clean water.
He however challenged Kenyans to ensure they protect the projects in their respective areas from vandals, who are out to frustrate government efforts.
Oguna said the government was keen on ensuring that Kenyans get clean and safe water for domestic, industrial and agriculture use in line with vision 2030.
On his part, Senior Director of the President’s Delivery Unit (PDU) Jared Buoga said the government has invested over Sh3.5 billion on water and sanitation projects in Nyanza alone.
Buoga said the ongoing water infrastructure projects in Siaya, Homa bay, Migori, Kisii and Nyamira counties will serve over 500,000 households with clean and portable water.
“In this region alone, we have six mega flagship water projects that cut across Western and Nyanza regions” said the Director, who accompanied the government spokesman.
He said the Ugunja – Sega – Ukwala water project that is jointly funded by the Kenya government and the Africa Development bank to the tune of Sh1.1 billion is expected to be completed by September this year and will serve up to 100,000 households.
“Upon completion, it will benefit the residents of Ugunja, Sega and Ukwala towns in Siaya county,” said Buoga, who is in charge of projects in the former Nyanza and Western provinces.
The PDU Director said that in addition to the Ugunja – Sega- Ukwala water project, the government was also undertaking the last mile connectivity at the Siaya – Bondo water project that will see additional 3,000 households connected to piped water.
In Homa Bay, the government was further undertaking the Kendu Bay and Oyugis water projects that will jointly serve a total of 130,000 households with clean portable water at a total cost of Sh1.1 billion.
At the same time, similar projects were also being undertaken in Migori, where 3,000 households are targeted and at Keroka in Kisii, where 150 households will benefit from the last mile connectivity.
In Western region, Buoga said that the government was implementing the Malaba town water project that targets to serve 58,000 households at a cost of Sh380 million.
Alongside the water project, is also the Malaba sewerage project that will serve 50,000 users upon completion.
“The water project is 70% complete, while the sewerage project is 95% complete,” said Buoga.
