A Sh589 million worth water project aimed at benefiting over 60,000 residents of Kilgoris and Lolgorian towns in Trans Mara West and South sub counties is almost complete.
The project Resident Eng. Paul Nyaga told the County Development Implementation Coordination Committee (CDICC) led by County Commissioner Isaac Masinde that the project was over 60 per cent complete.
Once completed, the hurdle of water shortage in Kilgoris and Lolgorian towns that serve as headquarters of Trans Mara West and South sub counties respectively will be a thing of the past.
The project, he said, commenced in January 2021 and was expected to run for 18 months until July 2022. However, he said they have sought for extension time as the contractor has faced several challenges among them delayed approval of National Environment and Management Authority (NEMA) license and delayed negotiations in land compensation.
He however assured the committee that they have laid a work plan that would see them finish the project in the course of the year.
The mega project under the Kenya Towns Sustainable Water Supply and Sanitation Programme is funded by the African Development Bank (ADB) and the government of Kenya through the Central Rift Valley Water Works Development Agency.
The work entails construction of a raw water pump station, treatment station, treated water pump station and water storage tanks among others.
Eng. Nyaga explained that the water would be pumped through the force of gravity to Kilgoris town, 20 kilometers from the site and Lolgorian town which is 8 kilometers from the water supply site.
Already constructed, he said, are offices in the two towns, two flocculation tanks, two sedimentation tanks, three rapid sand filters and two water storage tanks at Intimigom Primary School and Lolgorian town.
Commissioner Masinde who led the team from the Presidential Delivery Unit and county security team asked the contractor to add equipment and manpower to complete the project as agreed.
“It is not business as usual. Anyone given money by the government to work for the people must adhere to the contract he or she signed otherwise we will take legal action, regardless of your nationality,” said Masinde.
The contractor of the project is China State Construction Engineering Corporation Limited.
Source: Kenya News Agency