Nearly eighty thousand residents from Bungoma County are set to benefit from a multimillion water project funded by the government of Korea through Korea International Cooperation Agency KOICA Phase 2.
Speaking during the official handing over of the project to the County government at Chepyuk Ward in Mt. Elgon, South Korean Ambassador to Kenya Yeo Sung-Jun said that the South Korean government is ready and willing to work closely with the Kenyan government in making sure that most Kenyans have access to clean and safe water.
“Our government will extend its hand of help to the Kenyan government to foster its commitment to Kenyans in making sure that a good percentage of people get clean water as your President committed,” said Yeo.
Sung-Jun assured the residents of Bungoma that through his office, the government of S. Korea is going to approve another water project set to benefit the people of Webuye through Kimilili and Tongaren termed as KOICA phase 3 where thousands will benefit.
Bungoma Governor Ken Lusaka who extended his gratitude to the S. Korean government through Sung-Jun saying that the friendship between Kenya and Korea has helped thousands of residents in Bungoma County through various projects especially multimillion water projects within his County.
Lusaka on the other side assured Sung-Jun that the county government through his leadership will create a conducive environment in making sure that any project funded by the Korean government goes through not only for the benefit of Bungoma residents but the entire country.
At the same time, area Member of Parliament Fred Kapondi called on Bungoma Governor Ken Lusaka to ensure that roads leading to such projects are tarmacked to give easy access to the area, especially transportation of essential materials to run the project. Kapondi however extended his requests to Governor Lusaka and Ambassador Yeo Sung-Jun and the entire KOICA family to prioritize residents on matters employment especially during the expected KOICA phase 3 next year.
Local leaders who were present during the official handing over ceremony at Kabure Primary School in Mt. Elgon also told the water officials led by the county Water department to make sure that local residents benefit from the project unlike phase 1 which ended up benefiting people far from the area.
“We want our people also to benefit, the water department should lay pipes for locals here to get this clean water,” said Chepyuk Member of County Assembly Frankline Simotwo.
The famous KOICA Phase 2 water project extends all the way from Kapkerwa village in Mt. Elgon through Chwele in Kabuchai and Kibabii in Kanduyi Sub County where an estimate of over eighty thousand residents have access to clean water
By Thadeus Wachiye
