The national government has commissioned multi- billion shilling water projects in Kilifi County aimed at addressing challenges in accessing clean water for residents.
Water, Sanitation and Irrigation Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome had an extensive tour of Ganze and Malindi Sub Counties where she commissioned a 29 kilometer water pipeline and inspected the ongoing construction of the Baricho 2 borehole and water pipeline.
In Bamba area, Ganze SubCounty, Mrs Wahome commissioned the Sh. 100 million Mnagoni-Midoina- Ndaraku-Shirango- Rimerapera water pipeline project that will benefit 11, 821residents.
“We are covering about 11,000people in this project and I am happy that the governor is a partner in this project,” she said.
The project is funded by the European Union through the Water Sector Trust Fund at a tune of Sh. 87.1million while the Kilifi County government injected Sh. 13 million.
The Water Sector Trust Fund funded 87 per cent of the project while the Kilifi County government produced 13 per cent of the funding. The pipeline also comes with five water kiosks with elevated 5,000 litre tanks.
“We thank the government for bringing this project to us but I would urge them to dig more water pans for us since many people live far away from the water pipeline,” said Joseph Changawa from Midoina village in Bamba ward.
At Baricho Water Works station, a Sh. 1.9 billion borehole is 90 per cent complete and it will inject more than 5 million litres of water every day.
“Baricho one has water but the storage was not enough and that is why we needed the Baricho two which is the storage tank,” she said.
The project is being implemented by Coast Water Works Development Agency (CWWDA).
Area leaders led by Governor Gideon Mung’aro urged the national government to construct the proposed Sh. 6 billion Rare dam in Ganze Sub County, a project he said will improve water harvesting and enable irrigation activities to take place in the drought stricken area.
“I want to remind you to tell the President to ensure that he constructs the Rare dam as he promised to us” he said.
He said the project wasmooted in 1979 but has never been realized.
Ganze MP Kenneth Kazungu assured the CS that he will rally MPs to support budgetary allocation for the Water ministry saying that provision of water to Kenyans should be a priority.
“The Rare dam is in the pipeline and I want to give her an assurance that I will support the water budget in parliament knowing very well the Rare dam is part of the plan,” he said.
The CWWDA acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Martin Tuva said that the Baricho water project will be complete in December.
IAN BYRON