Principal Secretary (PS), State Department of Environment Mr. Charles Sunkuli [environment.go.ke]
Five counties in the Lake Victoria Basin (LVB) have received exhausters worth Sh57 million under a loaning program spearhead by Lake Victoria Environmental Management Program (LVEMPII-Kenya).
The exhausters from Toyota Kenya Ltd were handed over to Kisumu, Busia, Siaya, Kericho and Nandi Counties by the Principal Secretary (PS), State Department of Environment Mr. Charles Sunkuli at Tom Mboya Labour College in Kisumu on Wednesday.
Mr. Sunkuli said this is one of the flagship projects within the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources designating it as a milestone in addressing point and non-point sources of pollution in the LVB.
The PS observed that it is an important and strategic economic zone for Kenya where about 30% of the country’s total population is found in the basin which provides direct livelihood sources to over 80% of the inhabitants.
He revealed that the government of Kenya received credit from the International Development Association (IDA) towards completion and upgrading of the activities under the second phase of the LVEMPII.
The PS said some of the proceeds of this credit had been used for the procurement of the five exhausters for on-site sanitation services.
Mr. Sunkuli stated that the exhausters will be used in places where sewer networks do not cover, to control and prevent and non-point sources of pollution.
LVEMPII-Kenya, he revealed earlier on had provided eco-sanitary services through purchase of seven exhausters to Bomet, Kericho, Migori, Bondo, Siaya and Kisumu Counties.
He said the exhausters will provide on-site sanitation services and contribute immensely to the reduction of pollution load getting into Lake Victoria.
The PS said the initiative was a clear cue demonstrating the government’s commitment in ensuring clean, healthy and secure environment for all its citizens.
It is noteworthy that Lake Victoria is the second largest fresh water body in the world and a trans-boundary resource shared by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, with Ruanda and Burundi being part of the upper watershed which drains into the Lake through River Kagera, he said.
PS Sunkuli pointed out that the Lake plays a major role in the socio-economic and ecological stability of its basin, which is facing a myriad of environmental challenges.