BY ROBERT OMOLLO
The Lake Basin Development Authority has built a Sh15 million water project to address water shortage in Karachuonyo constituency, Homa Bay county.
The Oriwo Schools and Community Water project is set to serve 6,000 households forced to walk long distances in search of the commodity.
Three public learning institutions will also benefit from the project.
To actualise the project, LBDA dug a borehole at Oriwo Primary School and installed overhead water tanks.
A solar powered pump is used to pump water to the community.
Community members will have to use smart chips loaded with money through mobile phones to draw water from the tanks.
Cabinet Secretary for East African Community and Regional Development Peninah Malonza commissioned the project on Wednesday.
She was accompanied by Principal Secretary Kello Harsama and LBDA Managing director Wycliffe Ochiaga.
“This project seeks to address the acute water shortage. It also conserves water since only 20 litres of water is dispensed at a time,” Malonza said.
Money collected will be used for maintenance and expansion of the project.
Malonza said water will be available throughout the day.
“There are many residents who still to walk for up to five kilometres to access water. Let’s protect this project and make it beneficial,” she said.
She said the project will also spur economic growth through agriculture.
“Availability of water within the school will enable pupils and teachers to engage in agriculture. I encourage them to plant fruit trees,” the CS said.
Ochiaga said the project will keep learners, who have been forced to miss school to help their parents search for water, in school.
“Hygiene in this area will be improved and viral diseases kept at bay,” he said.
Water users’ committee representative Beverlyn Awuor urged LBDA to protect the project from vandalism.
“I appeal to you to put up a fence to keep criminals at bay,” she said.
