Sh1.7b water project to end crisis

Kericho Governor Paul Chepkwony (left) when he visited the Kimugu Water Treatment Plant. [Nikko Tanui, Standard]

Perennial water shortage in Kericho County will be a thing of the past upon completion of a Sh1.7 billion project funded by a German bank.

According to the county government, Kimugu Water Treatment Plant at Duka Moja, funded by Germany KfW Development Bank, will end perennial water shortage in the region.

Offer relief

On Tuesday, Governor Paul Chepkwony led a team of senior county officials to assess the project's progress, which he said will offer relief to more than 200,000 households in Ainamoi and Belgut constituencies once complete.

"The condition of the bank was that the Kericho Water and Sanitation Company (Kewasco) must provide 10 acres for the construction of the water treatment and distribution plant," said Mr Chepkwony.

The governor disclosed that when the water engineers drew up the design, the site at Duka Moja, which was under Unilever tea plantation, proved to be the most ideal location for the  plant.

"This is because the point allows water to flow by gravity and is the cheapest option,” he said.

The project is set for completion in April 2021, according to Kewasco. Project engineer Fabia Maside said simultaneous works were going on at various sites in a bid to beat the deadline.

Intake works

"We have the intake works which requires reinforced concrete structure across the existing River Kimugu where we are going to abstract the water," he said. 

The water will be conveyed through gravity via steel pipes for 7.7km to the Duka Moja water treatment plant. 

Speaking in Lilloch recently, Deputy President William Ruto said President Uhuru Kenyatta will visit the county soon to officially launch construction of the water project.