SIAYA WATER SEWERAGE LAUNCHES KSHS. 3.6 BILLION PLAN
Siaya Bondo Water and Sewerage Company (SIBOWASCO) have launched a KShs.3.6 billion Water Sector Strategic Development Plan to provide a framework for achieving water and sanitation for all in Siaya County by 2023.
The 57-page Strategic Development Plan envisioning “Sustainable water and basic sanitation for all by 2023” was launched by Siaya Deputy Governor Dr. James Okumbe at Summit Hotel on Wednesday.
– Always filter drinking water, using a household cloth filter or pipe filter, to remove the water fleas which harbor the infective Guinea worm larvae.
– Treat unsafe sources of drinking water with an approved larvicide, such as ABATE®, that kills water fleas.
Provide communities with safe sources of drinking water (such as from borehole or hand-dug wells), or have existing dysfunctional ones repaired.
Some specific objectives of the strategic plan are to increase the County water coverage rate from 36 per cent in 2019 to 52 per cent in 2023 and to increase water distribution lines from 927 Kilometer to 1021 Kilometers in 2023. Other objectives are to increase the sanitation coverage from 28 connections as at 2019 to 2,528 connections in 2023.
In his remarks, Dr Okumbe said the launch of the document which he termed as “an important milestone” will guide SIBO’s operations as it lays down modalities of providing safer, clean water to the citizens. “Water is one of the flagship projects that will form Governor Cornel Rasanga’s legacies hence must facilitate for extension of pipes to reach households, markets and schools,” said Dr. Okumbe.
The Deputy Governor asked SIBO to actualize the plan and ensure water sufficiency and sewerage network coverage in the entire county by constructing storage reservoirs, redesigning distribution networks and replacing the old dilapidated networks.
The document is quite suitable since it aims at reducing operational costs to meet consumer needs by protecting the consumers’ right to adequate, safe and reliable water and sewerage services
The SIBO Managing Director George Olaka asked for support from development partners and stakeholders to the water sector, which would help SIBO, extend coverage of water services to many rural areas as part of the five year strategic plan launched today.
“We can achieve the Sustainable Development Goals if we continue to receive investment support from our development partners and overseas development agencies. I therefore appeal to the water and sanitation development partners and other stakeholders such as the banks and other corporate entities to remain committed to supporting the sector,” said Olaka
The strategic plan was the result of a comprehensive assessment carried out with the technical assistance of KIWASH.
“During the assessment process, the utilities were evaluated on operational practices and procedures, long-term plans for infrastructure improvements, and financial viability in comparison to industry standards and benchmarks,” said Mr. Olaka
“We intend to have increased funding from the national government and other development partners to achieve full cost recovery by 2023,” he added. Mr. Olaka says that other plans for the Water sector will include overhaul of dilapidated water infrastructure that bursts due to water pressure from time to time.
The County Water Executive Adrian Ouma reiterated Siaya government’s commitment to provide basic social services in the medium term and addressing any challenges that may emerge holistically. “We are working closely with Water private partners like KIWASH to ensure our residents get clean drinking water and improve hygiene hence this strategic plan and the heavy investment in the Water sector” added Eng. Ouma. The Executive further cautioned middle level of SIBO management against laxity at the workplace.
COMMUNICATION DIRECTORATE
COUNTY GOVERNMENT OF SIAYA
