Residents of Rusinga Island in Homa Bay County are set to benefit from a Ksh 30 million water project aimed at improving access to clean and reliable water.
The initiative is being implemented by the Homa Bay County Government in collaboration with USAID’s Western Kenya Sanitation Project. The project focuses on expanding the current water supply system, which previously served only a limited population.
Key upgrades will include the replacement of two water pumps at the intake and the construction of new intake infrastructure to increase capacity.
The project was officially launched by Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga and Calvins Odera, the Deputy Chief of Party for the Western Kenya Sanitation Project, during a ceremony held on Rusinga Island.
Governor Wanga noted that the lack of adequate funding has previously hindered the implementation of comprehensive water projects in the region. She reaffirmed her campaign promise to reduce the distance residents have to walk to access clean water, emphasizing the impact on women who are most affected by water shortages.
“Women should not have to travel long distances in search of water. This project is a step towards fulfilling that commitment,” said Wanga.
Calvins Odera stated that the Rusinga Island project is the first of its kind under the organization’s initiatives in the eight counties it operates in. He assured residents that the contractor has a four-month deadline to complete the project and emphasized the importance of meeting this timeline.
Tom Nyonje, Managing Director of Homa Bay Water and Sanitation Company (Homawasco), highlighted that the current Mbita Water Project produces 1,800 cubic meters of water daily, serving an area with a 14-kilometer radius and benefiting 20,000 residents. The planned expansion is expected to serve an additional 1,200 clients on Rusinga Island and 1,025 in Mbita.
County Executive for Water and Environment, Joash Aloo, pointed out that high electricity costs have been a major obstacle in water distribution. He revealed that Homawasco owes Kenya Power Ksh 19 million in unpaid bills, making the reliance on grid electricity unsustainable.
To address this issue, Aloo proposed a shift to solar energy as a more viable and cost-effective solution for powering the water supply system.
