Over 40,000 households in Kirinyaga set to be connected to the first sewerage project
Over 40,000 households in Kirinyaga are set to benefit from the first sewerage project ever in the county.
The project that has been undertaken through Tana Water Works Development Agency (TWWDA) is over 99% complete and is expected to be handed over to the County Government for management by end of the current financial year.
While on a project visit to Kirinyaga, the Cabinet Secretary for Water, Sanitation and Irrigation, Eng. Eric Mugaa, said that Kerugoya Kutus Sewerage Project is one of the life changing projects in the county in which Ksh. 500 million was injected. He said that the last phase of the project includes undertaking the last mile connectivity which will be done under the upcoming National Urban Water and Sanitation Program (NUWASAP) to be financed by the African Development Bank.
He added that the laboratory at the treatment plant will be furnished with the necessary equipment to enable wastewater analysis at various stages of treatment to ensure that waste water discharge meets the required environmental and safety standards.
Kirinyaga County Deputy Governor, David Githanda, said that the county government was well prepared to take over the running of the project once it is handed over to them. He noted that some last mile consumer connections have already been undertaken for about 10 institutions among them County government headquarters, Alber Primary School in Kutus and 12 select multi-dwelling units.
He noted that main beneficiaries of the sewer line will be those in, around and along Kerugoya, Kutus, Kagumo among others. Major benefitting institutions include Kerugoya Affordable Housing project, learning institutions such as Kirinyaga University, government offices as well as thousands of residential and commercial dwellings.
Githanda pointed out that Kirinyaga County Water and Sanitation Company (KICOWASCO) has undergone robust reforms aimed at improving service delivery and was up to the task to manage the new sewerage project among other services.
Some of the reforms at the company include recruitment of a new Managing Director as well as the other managers, and engaging new professional members of Board of Directors. There has also been capacity building for KICOWASCO staff on implementation, operation and maintenance of the project.
In order to reduce non-revenue water to the Water Services Regulatory Board (WASREB) requirements, the Deputy Governor noted that the county has established a Non-Revenue Water Strategic plan which includes installation of smart production water meters at all treatment facilities and proposals for overhauling the distribution networks in major towns in order to minimize water theft, bursts and leakages attributed to old and dilapidated infrastructure.
CS Mugaa urged for continued cordial working relationship between the National and the County governments for smooth operationalization of the sewerage project.
