A new bulky water supply project is set to benefit 350,000 people in
Kirinyaga County will be launched in two months.
Water, Sanitation, and Irrigation Cabinet Secretary (CS) Alice Wahome,
says the Kirinyaga Bulky Water Supply project will give water to four
major towns in the county is almost complete.
The CS said the project will improve water quantity, quality, and reliability
within Kerugoya, Kutus, Kagio and Sagana towns.
Speaking during an inspection tour of the project, Wahome who was
accompanied by Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru said the new system
will supply the residents with an additional 30,000 cubic metres of water
daily.
The water supply system will draw water from intakes at Kiriga and Thiba
rivers with the main treatment plant being located in the Muratiri area.
“This project will spur speedy growth in the county, industries will grow and
our supportive role as the ministry is to ensure we can do this across the
country. There is a huge demand for water everywhere and we know we
have not been able to reach everyone,” CS Wahome said.
Wahome said that the project is being funded by the government and the
African Development Bank (ADB) at an approximate cost of Ksh. 1.1
billion.
The towns will also benefit from a Ksh. 500 million Sewerage treatment
the system which is also nearing completion.
The CS said the sewerage system will serve Kerugoya and Kutus towns and
homes along the line.
“This will be one of the biggest small towns’ water and sewerage systems
that we have in the country. Previously, there was no proper policy in place
to ensure that as you supply water then you also take care of sewerage.
The sewer system is not restricted to town, it will provide service anywhere
it will pass,” she said.
On her part, Governor Waiguru said the water and sewerage system will be
a great relief to the residents as it will alleviate water shortage and help
improve hygiene and sanitation standards in four towns.
The Council of Governors (COG) chair said that the project will also help in
opening up towns as an adequate supply of water and sewer systems is a
a major consideration for investors.
“Previously we did not have a sewerage system but we now have this new
one that is nearing completion. It starts from Kerugoya all the way to Kutus
and goes down to Kagio and Sagana,” the Governor said.
The governor further said the increased water supply will make the
upcoming Sagana Industrial Park more attractive to investors.
“We are collaborating with the national government in the establishment of
the industrial park and we are happy because the water will serve that park
especially the low-cost housing and the industries that will be set up there,”
said the governor.
She also pointed out that her administration had intervened to ensure
property owners whose land has been acquired to allow construction of the
sewer line are duly compensated.
