Water Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa has revealed that the government is set to construct the Lower Nzoia Irrigation Project-Phase 1 and Lower Nzoia River Flood Mitigation Structures to permanently mitigate against damage from floods repeatedly caused by flooding in River Nzoia.
During the official signing of the contract construction works of the Lower Nzoia Project at Maji House in Nairobi, CS Wamalwa said the work will be done under the Kenya Water Security and Climate Resilience Program with funds from World Bank and KfW, and said that the government will cooperate with Governors to make sure the project benefits residents of Western Kenya,” he said. The total contract value between the Ministry of Water and Irrigation, and Sinohydro Corporation Limited, who is the contractor, is Kshs 5,285,985,764, with the Lower Nzoia Irrigation project costing Kshs 3,873,317,854 and Kshs 1,412,667,909 for the River Dykes.
Other leaders who were present at the function were Senate Speaker Ken Lusaka, Busia Governor Sospeter Ojaamong, former Budalang’i MP Ababu Namwamba, Raphael Wanjala, Mumias East MP Ben Washiali among others.
The Lower Nzoia Irrigation Project Phase 1 will benefit 20,000 people that include 2,100 households including those currently in the Bunyala Irrigation Project with an estimated 50,000 people in neighbouring areas expected to indirectly benefit through linkages to scheme activities and outputs.
Moreover, the aforementioned River Dykes project will include repair and improvement of existing dykes and construction of new dykes all totalling 34km, culverts and drains to provide enhanced flood protection to the communities of the Lower Nzoia River in Busia and Siaya Counties.
The government will meet the costs for resettlement and compensation to all the affected people, the total cost being Kshs 1.2 billion. The compensation will be progressive before works begin in February 2018.