Nairobi’s perennial water problems will become a thing of the past with the commissioning of the Sh4.5 billion Kigoro water treatment plant in Gatanga, Murang’a county.
The project will supply water to more than 1.2 million people in Murang’a, Kiambu, Nairobi, Machakos and Kajiado counties.
It is financed by Agence Française de Dévelopement (AFD) in partnership with the Kenyan government, and is part of the Northern Collector Tunnel System.
Water and Irrigation Cabinet Secretary Eric Mugaa commissioned the project whose construction was completed months ago.
He said the project is a showcase of innovation, featuring compact design, Scada automation for efficient monitoring and in-house sodium hypochlorite production for disinfection, making it a beacon of efficiency and modernity in the region.
The CS said the project will be treating 140 million litres of water daily and will be implemented by the Athi Water Works Development Agency (AWWDA).
It is expected to address water shortages in the city metropolitan, which stands at about one million litres a day.
“Water scarcity in urban areas remains a challenge due to the soaring population each year. In the metropolis, the demand is huge and there are big gaps,” Mugaa said.
“However, this project will go a long way in addressing the gaps. This project is part of the huge government agenda of coming up with water projects to address these demand gaps.”
The CS was accompanied by Thani Mohamed-Soilihi, the French Minister of State for Francophonie and International Partnerships, who highlighted the strong partnership between Kenya and France in water and sanitation.
Thani acknowledged the contributions of French companies such as Suez and Sogea, whose innovative solutions have ensured the Kigoro water treatment plant stands as a model for the region.
AWWDA chairman Charles Karondo said the project is a monumental achievement in Kenya’s water infrastructure history.
Gatanga MP Edward Muriu said
the project will spur development in
the area and better the livelihoods
of his constituents who have over
the years been fetching water from
rivers.
