State to revive stalled multi-billion water projects

The government will soon resume construction of stalled water projects across the country, Water and Sanitation Principal Secretary Paul Rono has said.

Rono said the plans will also see over 100 mega dams constructed before 2027.

He spoke after leading a tree planting exercise at Koiwa High School at Konoin in Bomet, on Tuesday.

Rono was accompanied by Konoin MP Brighton Yegon.

The PS said among the projects which will be revived are Itare and Bosto water dams which are in the South Rift region.

He said plans were at the final stages and funds for the same had been factored into the budget.

Rono also said the projects are part of the government's plans to ensure a big of the population gets access to clean water.

“Apart from you getting water for use at home, these projects are also plans by the government to create jobs and help fight water-borne diseases that have become a menace,” he said.

Citing Bosto water project which will cost Sh21 billion, Rono said it is going to avail 150 cubic meters of water to residents of Kericho, Bomet and Narok counties.

“The project is going to supply water to the areas through gravity therefore the cost of supply will be low,” he said.

Rono said the ministry had launched last-mile connectivity of water from existing projects.

He said the ministry was going to partner with all levels of government and leaders to connect many people to piped water.

“We are inviting all leaders from all levels of government to join the fight to ensure we deliver piped water to the people,” he said.

“The drive will involve Members of the County Assembly, Members of Parliament and county leadership.”

Rono said residents should hold their leaders accountable for the same.

“Going to the next election, residents should ask leaders coming to their villages how many people they have helped to connect to piped water,” Rono said.

The PS said water supply should not be left to the national or county governments alone.

“Women Representatives have roles through the affirmative to even help women gather water from their roofs and store them in tanks and that would have a great deal,” he said.

The PS also distributed over Sh1 million of fruit seedlings to various groups drawn from the subcounty in collaboration with the Konoin NG-CDF.

The seedlings, Rono said, would also be distributed to schools to ensure drive by President Ruto to plant 15 million trees are achieved.

He asked residents to protect water sources to avoid a water crisis.

He said there were fears of rivers dying due to the destruction of wetlands and riparian lands.

“Seasonal rivers have disappeared and major rivers have been turned into seasonal ones which is a bad thing. Let’s go out of our way and protect river sources,” the PS said.

Similar sentiments were echoed by MP Yegon who called on the need to protect water sources saying he would distribute bamboo seedlings to residents to plant in riparian lands.