KISUMU, KENYA: The World Bank has extended operations of Lake Victoria Environmental Management Programme (LVEMP II) by providing additional funds worth Sh920million (10million dollars).
The programme, whose implementation began in March 2010 and was meant to come to an end in June this year, has been extended to operate for the next two and a half years.
Lvemp II National Project Coordinator Franscisca Owuor said Tanzania has also received an extension of a similar amount.
"We managed to absorb 89 per cent of previous funding form World Bank which has led to an additional financing by the bank because they have been impressed by our performance," she said.
Owuor said the additional funding will be used to upscale success stories and also prepare for ambitious next phase which will be known as APL III that will start in 2017.
She was speaking during the commissioning of seven exhausts purchased at Sh65million to reduce pollution in seven counties without proper sewerage facilities, which was officiated by Environment Cabinet Secretary Prof Judi Wakhungu.
The counties set to benefit from the exhausts that will reduce point source pollution form pit latrines and septic tanks are Kisumu, Homa Bay, Bomet, Kericho, Kisii, Migori and Siaya.
Wakhungu also officially opened Kisumu Water Quality Laboratory rehabilitated by at a total cost of Sh18, 416,914 million.