Nakuru government has signed a Sh15 billion partnership with Dutch water companies to rehabilitate Turasha Dam and develop Lake Naivasha as a clean water source.
The two companies, Viten and Evides will fund and manage the projects.
Rehabilitation of Turasha dam is expected to cost slightly more than Sh5 billion while the remaining Sh10 billion will be used on development of Lake Naivasha.
Governor Susan Kihika said the projects align with sustainable development goals to create transformative change in local communities.
She said the investment opportunity will significantly improve water availability and socio-economic conditions in the populous county.
Kihika said the two water companies have implemented various water and sanitation projects in Nakuru for more than two decades.
She spoke after a closed door meeting with Netherlands Ambassador to Kenya Maarten Brouwer and VEI representatives.
Brouwer was also accompanied by his spouse, Anke Robertus.
Kihika said VEI coordinates and supervises projects granted by the Water for Life Foundation.
She said Nakuru is a beneficiary of the fund, with five water projects being implemented in Molo, Naivasha, Nakuru peri-urban and Rongai at Sh167.4 billion.
“VEI has worked with Nakuru Rural Water and Sewerage Services company, Nakuru water and Sanitation Services company and Naivasha Water and Sanitation company. It also financed the last mile connectivity feasibility studies on Itare Dam,” Kihika said.
The governor said the county had partnered with VEI to implement the WaterWorx project, which is expected to provide sustainable water services to 10 million people from 2017 to 2030.
“VEI, which is part of the WWX consortium is engaged in a water operators partnerships with Nawassco, Naivawasco and Naruwassco. Their collective goal is to bolster local capacity, foster sustainable water services, and create investment opportunities for underserved communities,” she said.
Kihika said current projects are focused on maintaining water distribution systems, reducing water losses, climate resilience planning, energy efficiency and organisational improvement.
She said Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs through the Netherlands Enterprise Agency has introduced the Water As Leverage initiative to make Nakuru a sponge city.
The initiative focuses on innovative solutions for water and climate challenges through infrastructure investment.
Kihika said VEI is working with World Wildlife Fund Kenya to implement the five-year Catchment to Tap project.
The project is expected to address Water Resource Management challenges.
