Kakamega County Water and Sanitation Company Limited (KACWASCO) has launched a 2017-2021 Strategic Plan to guide its operations as it lays down modalities of providing safer, affordable and clean water to the citizens.
Since the County Government took over water management from the Lake Victoria North Water Services Board, KAWASCO has embarked on a mission to provide sustainable and reliable water and sanitation services to stakeholders.
In the Strategic Plan, the company will ensure water sufficiency and sewerage network coverage in the entire County by constructing storage reservoirs, redesigning distribution networks and replacing the old dilapidated networks. It has as well moved to reduce operational costs to meet consumer needs by protecting the consumers right to adequate, safe and reliable water and sewerage services. As funding is an essential factor for provision of any service, the company will also mobilize internal and external resources to fund the recurrent and investment budgets. In addition, revenue collection and billing efficiency will be improved to expand the company’s revenue base.
In the Governor’s speech read by Water, Environment and Natural Resources CEC Robert Sumbi, Kakamega County Governor H.E Wycliffe Ambetsa Oparanya said his government has prioritized supply of clean drinking water to the citizens. The Governor added that a water and sewerage master plan will soon be developed to guide water development and sewerage infrastructure in the county. He thanked the partners, in particular, the USAID-KIWASH project for their tremendous support to the water issues in Kakamega County.
Managing Director Mr. John Atwaa revealed that the 5-year project is estimated at a cost of Kshs 3 billion and it will improve water accessibility in the County by 16%.
“The project will take five years to complete, and it will cost the company a total of 3 billion shillings. It will improve the accessibility of water from 62% to 78%,” explained Atwaa.
On his side, the KAWASCO Board of Management Chairman Prof. John Wamakonjio said that the company is out to ensure clean water accessibility and sanitation to all residents.
Wamakonjio, however, lamented that the company and County government are having difficulties accessing land for sewerage services.
He revealed that the current sewer is almost overflowing and residents are not willing to set aside land for the same calling upon them to work hand in hand with the county government to ensure that a sewer is constructed for their own benefits.
Present during the function was Water, Environment and Natural Resources Acting Chief Officer Mr. Kelvin Marangu.