By Aines Wangila, Busia
The residents of Angurai ward, Teso North constituency, have urged the county government of Busia to expedite the completion of Sh25 million solarized water project at Kolanya Girls National School, to enable them access clean and safe water.
The water project is earmarked to serve more than 2500 households and five learning institutions that includes, Kolanya Girls and Boys, Chemasiri Technical Training Institute (TTI), and Kolanya Complex respectively.
A section of the area residents stated that the completion and subsequent commissioning of the water project domiciled at Kolanya Girls National School, will be a big relief to them to access clean water.
Mr. John Kituyi a resident of Kolanya area explained that for a long time, they have been relying on water from streams which at times are dirty and dry up during dry seasons.
“We normally scramble for dirty with our animals and sometimes the streams dry up during dry season,” Kituyi explained.
He however expressed his hope that the Kolanya water project would be a game changer through supply of steady clean water.
His sentiments were echoed by Wilson Papa, who implored the county government of Busia to extend the water pipes to individual homes market centres for easy access of the clean water.
“I request the county government of Busia, to connect the water pipes to our homesteads for easy access,” Papa requested.
The solarized Kolanya water project, is a boost to Malaba Treatment Plant situated at Malakisi on the border of Busia and Bungoma county.
The treated water from Malaba treatment plant will pumped to Kolanya storage tanks, before it is pushed to Oshoromo Hills for subsequent distribution through gravity.
The primary infrasturcture of laying pipes and construction of storage tanks is 90 per cent complete.
Busia Water and Sewerage Company ( BUWASCO), will be tasked to implement the last mile connectivity once the project is complete.
Busia governor Paul Otuoma, revealed that they are embracing the use of clean energy thus solarization of the water schemes to cut cost on exorbitant electricity bills that have been a major hindrance to water supply services.
“In Busia we are a low lying county meaning we need energy in pure water schemes to pump water -and you know the cost of electricity, this has really affected the services,” opined Otuoma.
“But now with this what we are calling green energy and the new program we have put in place including Financing Locally-Led Climate Action (FLLoCA), we are seeing hiw best we can address the energy requirements that arw sustainable and able to give people water in a conserved environment, ” added Otuoma.
He also appealed to the members of parliament, to pass the law to have different tariffs for Kenya Power especiallly water schemes emphasising that water is a basic human need.
“There are some unrealistic water tariffs that are not related to water making water over-commercialized yet we need to give our people water,” Otuoma lamented.
