This archive report was first published on 17 September 2021.
Published on September 17, 2021, a Sh580 million water project in Oyugis, Homa Bay County, is set to transform the lives of residents in the area. The project, implemented by the Central Rift Valley Water Works Development Agency and funded by the African Development Bank (ADB) in partnership with the National Government, aims to serve 73,000 households by the end of 2023.
The project, which is expected to be completed by December 2023, will produce 12,300 cubic meters of water per day in the initial stages before expanding to serve over 120,000 residents in 2040. Speaking during a tour of the project, Central Rift Valley Water Works Development Agency acting CEO Samwel Oruma said that residents whose land was used for the project had been compensated and the work was progressing smoothly.
“We are moving with the necessary speed to ensure the project is completed by the end of this year,” Oruma said. The project is designed to alleviate the shortage of clean water in the area, improving the health of residents and reducing water-borne diseases such as cholera and bilharzia.
Acting CEO Chrispin Juma emphasized the importance of residents owning the project and protecting the construction materials from vandalism. He also encouraged residents to register with the Homa Bay Water and Sanitation Company to enable them to access the water in their homes at the right time.
ADB’s Kenya executive director Amos Cheptoo said that the project was part of the bank’s intention to help ease poverty in Kenya. “Implementation of the project has reached 60 per cent. I believe it will end at the stipulated time. It will improve the livelihood of the people,” said Cheptoo.
