Hanoi:Vihiga Residents of Vihiga County are poised to benefit from improved access to clean and reliable water with the commissioning of two new water projects in Tiriki East and Luanda Sub-Counties.
According to Kenya News Agency, Vihiga Governor Dr. Wilber Khasilwa Ottichilo recently inaugurated the Izava-Mungavo Water Supply and Catchment Conservation Project located in Shamakhokho Ward, Tiriki East Sub-County, and also launched the Ebwiranyi Water Project in Luanda Sub-County. These initiatives are part of 36 water projects being implemented across the county under the Financing Locally-Led Climate Action (FLLoCA) Programme, supported by the National Treasury and Economic Planning, the World Bank, and European partners from Denmark, Sweden, Germany, and the Netherlands.
During the commissioning event at Mungavo PAG Church in Kaimosi Municipality, Dr. Ottichilo praised the local Climate Change Committee and community leaders for recognizing the necessity of these projects. He emphasized his collaboration with the National Government to deliver developmental benefits to Vihiga County residents.
Shamakhokho Ward MCA Richard Muhiga expressed gratitude to the governor for addressing the community’s request for the water project and called for its expansion to serve approximately 500 households. He has allocated Sh2 million for piping and appealed to Vihiga Kenya Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (K-WASH) for additional assistance with piping. Muhiga also highlighted the need for improved roads around the project site.
Vihiga County Director for Climate Change, Winstone Atamba, explained that the Izava-Mungavo project aims to alleviate water shortages in the area. The project features a 12-metre-high rehabilitated water system with a solar-powered pump that can deliver 20 cubic metres of water per hour into a storage tank for distribution. It also includes a storage facility and security measures such as CCTV surveillance, already benefiting around 100 households.
Atamba advised residents to conserve rainwater and prepare for potential landslides and flooding due to predicted heavy rains. Local residents appreciate the projects for boosting domestic water access and agricultural activities. Paul Mukuna Festo, a resident of Luanda sub-county, noted that the Ebwiranyi project would reduce the distance traveled for water and enhance agricultural participation.
County Chief Officer for Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources, Richard Boiyo, encouraged residents to protect the infrastructure from vandalism to ensure the project’s longevity. He stated that the Vihiga Water and Sewerage Company (VIWASCO) would manage the projects post-commissioning to provide treated, clean, and adequate water to residents. Boiyo also urged Community Water Management Committees to collaborate with VIWASCO to ensure fair water distribution and infrastructure security.
These projects represent significant progress in Vihiga County’s efforts to broaden access to clean water, support agriculture, and enhance community resilience to climate change.
