Kisumu County Water, Natural Resources and Environment Board Executive Prof Barack Obonyo has blamed border rows for challenges in water service delivery since they share its sources with neighboring counties.
Speaking in Kisumu during the Lake Vicoria South Water Service Board (LVSWSB) annual stakeholder’s conference held at Tom Mboya Labour College on Wednesday, he said the county had invested over Sh4 million in the Kajulu water treatment project but the trans-border water source battles made residents fear consuming the necessity over fears that it may have been contaminated.
"We invest millions in water projects but wars on border water resources derail us,residents even fear consuming water with the fear that it may have been contaminated from the neighboring counties that host catchment areas," said Prof Obonyo.
However, Water PS Prof Fred Sogor said the government was keen on the matter and it will tackle the challenges by the water bill that is under the national assembly for harmonisation of amendments from both houses.
He said it shall be a law in operation in the next three months to have all stakeholders’ roles outlined and help in water resource sharing formula across county borders.
"The new bill shall be passed into law in the next three months to held facilitate conflict resolution throughout counties traversed by the water resources," said Sogor.