In a bid to ensure locals have access to clean tapped water, the County Government of Uasin Gishu is at an advanced stage to set up a second water supply company.
The Uasin Gishu Rural Water Company is expected to be mandated to exclusively supply water to locals in rural areas.
It will be the second county-owned water company after the Eldoret Water and Sanitation Company (ELDOWAS).
Eldowas is mandated to supply water to locals within the Eldoret Municipality only.
Speaking during a visit to Chebar dam, a key source of water for Eldowas, Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii Chelilim said the upcoming water company perfectly aligns with his government’s Nguzo Kumi manifesto – which water is part of.
“We also want people upcountry to get water,” Chelilim said.
Ease pressure on Eldowas
The County Executive Committee Member of Environment, Water and Natural Resources Mary Njogu said the Uasin Gishu Rural Water Company will help ease the pressure on Eldowas.
“We are coming up with rural water company so that our people can get supply of clean portable water and cushion Chebara water so that Eldoret people can get enough water,” said Njogu.
The Uasin Gishu County Assembly had in 2018 adopted a report that recommended the establishment of company that will supply water to rural areas.
But even as plans continue to set up the second water company, the county boss says his administration will continue with desilting water dams – works that his predecessor Jackson Mandago started.
Mandago’s administration had targeted to desilt all the 330 dams across the country.
“We need water for agriculture, domestic use and health. We want to make sure our households have water, schools, public facilities and even hospitals,” noted Chelilim.
Eldoret city status
He also noted that they are working on ensuring Eldowas produces sufficient water for locals within Eldoret town which is eyeing the town status.
Eldowas Managing Director Peter Kibet Arap Biwott said the new administration has already committed to helping them enhance their water production capacity in anticipation for the city status.
“We are happy that the governor has committed to ensure Kipkaren water treatment is complete as well as Two Rivers Dam and Kimumu sewerage is done for locals to access water and sewerage services,” said Arap Biwott.
Currently, Eldowas has a capacity to produce 43 million litres of water daily against a demand of 60 million litres from Eldoret town dwellers.
It is hoped that once the ongoing water projects are complete, water shortage in Eldoret town will be a thing of the past.
Water and sewerage services are two main areas that a town needs to be able to provide to locals before it gets a city status.
