Sh1.1b spent to upgrade Kapsabet water system

By Macharia Kamau

NANDI, KENYA: Persistent water shortages in Kapsabet town will now be a thing of the past after the completion of a multi-billion project to provide water services to the town’s over 50,000 residents.

The provision of water will also enable the town’s sewerage facility, which could not function properly due to lack of water, to handle waste water treatment.

The Nandi Water and Sanitation Project was completed at a cost of Sh1.1 billion with funding from the Japanese Government, through Japanese International Corporation Agency (Jica) and implemented by the Victoria North Water Services Board.

According to available documents from the Board, the project involved rehabilitation of Kapsabet water treatment works and distribution system to serve about 50,000 people in Kapsabet town and its environs.

The Board serves over seven million people, in an expansive area covering Western and North Rift. The programmes ensure development of both Water and Sanitation facilities.

Similarly, Water and Sanitation Improvement Programme (WaSSIP), a development programme jointly financed by the Government and World Bank is undertaking expansion of water supply in Eldoret area. At Chebara, treatment works is undergoing expansion at a cost of over Sh300 million to substantially increase provision of water in the area.

The Lessos Water and Sanitation Supply Project, also financed under the WaSSIP programme, has been completed and handed over to Eldoret Water Services for operation.

The project involved construction of a new treatment works, with a high water capacity to supply water to Kesses and Lessos urban centres and their environs at a cost of Sh200m.