Over 10,000 Kisumu County residents are set to benefit from a Sh20 million water project courtesy of Living Water International.
The project launched on Monday will see 12 wells drilled in schools, hospitals and within villages to benefit communities facing water scarcity at no cost.
Forty volunteers who will implement the project commenced a two weeks training on drilling skills, and will start the work.
LWI CEO Victor Madziakapita said the investment was part of the organization’s activities in Kisumu aimed at reducing the impacts of lack of safe drinking water.
The project is done in partnership with Kisumu County government, Living Water Service Centre, Kenya Water Institute, World Vision Kenya and National Water Conservation and Pipeline Corporation.
“Africa has a huge potential for underground water hence once ventured in, Kenyan may be relieved of problems which come with water scarcity,” said Madziakapita
According to Citizen Report Card Survey 2007 users of water kiosks in cities fetch water 4–6 times per day, meaning that a poor household spent 112 minutes per day to fetch water at normal times, and as much as 200 minutes per day during times of scarcity.
Governor Jack Ranguma who presided over the launch said providing access to water, proper and adequate sanitation facilities and sanitation education has a significant role in improving health and economic productivity of the poor.
“For this to be realised there is a need for a strong partnership among all the players in this sector (both government and Non-governmental Organizations) and a significant capital infusion into the sector,” said Ranguma.
He said even though the county has made considerable progress in recent years, the problems of access to clean safe water still persist despite the fact that Kisumu borders the 2nd largest fresh water.
With Kiwasco coverage being 57 per cent, the governor noted that a significant number of Kisumu City residents still do not have access safe water.
“Lake/Weed pollution, Global Warming and climate change, and increase in power cost and other inputs remains some of the major challenges to the access to safe water within the county,” he added.