Nakuru: Nakuru county government is investing Sh316 million towards extending and rehabilitating existing water networks that will help in addressing the long-standing water shortages in the County. The water project that is set to benefit over 100,000 households living within Nakuru City is also expected to reduce high water losses and leakages due to old pipelines, while at the same time increasing access to low-income areas of Rhonda, Kaptembwa, Mwariki, Manyani, and Githima Estates.
According to Kenya News Agency, Governor Susan Kihika stated that the Nairobi Road Wellfield water project, which is anticipated to significantly reduce Nakuru's daily water deficit, is being achieved through various components. Kihika mentioned that the major component of the project, implemented by the Nakuru Water and Sanitation Services Company (NAWASSCO) with support from the World Bank-funded Water Sector Trust Fund Conditional Liquidity Support Grant II (CLSG II), will entail drilling and equipping 10 new boreholes to yield an estimated 21,600 cubic meters of water per day.
The governor explained that the 10 new boreholes will increase NAWASSCO's daily production from the current 40,000 cubic meters to 61,600 cubic meters, against a demand of between 70,000 and 80,000 cubic meters. During an impromptu inspection of the ongoing works on the project, Kihika highlighted other components, including the automation of three wellfields and the replacement of over 10,000 old customer meters with smart meters to curb non-revenue water.
A Non-Revenue Water (NRW) audit revealed that Nawassco, Nakuru Rural Water and Sanitation Company Limited (Naruwasco), and Naivasha Water and Sanitation Company Limited (Naivawasco) lose more than half of their treated drinking water to leaks, theft, and meter inaccuracies, resulting in monthly losses of over Shs40 million and scarcity of the commodity. The governor pledged that the project, expected to be operational within three months, will ease persistent water rationing and improve service reliability in Nakuru CBD, Freehold, Shabab, Race Track, Industrial Area, and London estates.
She added that Kiamunyi Estate, which has never had a public water service provider network, will now receive about 3,000 cubic meters of water daily once the Trust Fund Conditional Liquidity Support Grant II project becomes operational. Kihika outlined healthcare, water provision, and enhanced food security through agricultural sector support as key achievements of her administration.
The governor emphasized the importance of recognizing and implementing the requirements of the Constitution of Kenya 2010, Article 43 (1), (b), (c), (d), which guarantees the provision of reasonable sanitation standards, freedom from hunger, and adequate safe water quantities. She stated that Nakuru residents are set to benefit from enhanced access to clean and improved sanitation services following resource allocation towards water and sewage system expansion.
The county has also secured a Sh5.6 billion grant from the German Development Bank for the 'Lake Nakuru Biodiversity Conservation Project,' which will expand water and sewerage infrastructure. Kihika revealed that her administration expanded its water network by 488 kilometers in the past year after completing 132 water projects, allowing 17,070 additional households access to clean drinking water. Consequently, access to clean water has increased from 59.2 percent to 62.33 percent.
Kihika noted that 72 boreholes were drilled and more than 90 equipped, with an additional 92 boreholes solarized to reduce electricity costs. Sanitation improvements have been made in areas such as Flamingo, Kabati, Paul Machanga, and Barnabas, Mwariki B, and Neylan, benefiting over 17,000 residents. A new Sh70 million drilling rig acquired by the administration will aid in drilling about 130 more boreholes next year.
A highlight of the mega sewer system expansion project will be the decommissioning of the 63-year-old Kaloleni Waste Water Treatment Plant, with waste redirected to the upgraded Njoro Treatment Works, capable of processing 20,000 cubic meters of water per day. Kihika affirmed that while the projects involved expanding the water supply network and upgrading aged infrastructure, they were also focusing on cleaning water flowing into Lake Nakuru to safeguard its ecosystem and biodiversity.
Additionally, 14 water kiosks have been constructed, 7 natural springs protected, and 11 boreholes restored, providing reliable water for an estimated 6,000 residents. To improve sanitation, 66 toilet blocks have been rehabilitated and connected to the sewerage line in Flamingo Ward, benefiting over 300 residents. In Naivasha's Kabati area, a one-kilometer sewer line and 200 household connections were completed.
Further works include 300 meters of new sewer lines in Paul Machanga Estate and 1.45 kilometers of sewer extensions in USAID, TPH, and Agape estates, improving sanitation reliability for more than 300 households. Key sanitation projects underway include Barnabas-Mwariki B and Neylan sewer developments, providing safer wastewater management for nearly 17,000 residents.
On the water supply front, major investments are ongoing in Longonot, Kamuyu, Muciringiri, Upper Mirera, and Bahati, where communities have faced chronic shortages. Kihika cited the Chemususu Water Project, set to serve 60,000 residents, noting completion of the 41-kilometer Emkwen-Mogotio-KoiSamo line and progress on Nguso Rafiki and Molo lines.
To improve water project management, the governor announced the transfer of community water projects to Water Service Providers (WSPs) owned by the devolved unit, namely Nakuru Water and Sanitation Services Company (Nawassco), Nakuru Rural Water and Sanitation Services Company (Naruwasco), and Naivasha Water and Sanitation Services Company (Naiwascco). The aim is to enhance efficient operations and minimize interruptions associated with community water projects.
The Water Service Providers have taken over management of Kabatini, Limuko, and Amos water projects in Bahati and Mzee Nyama water project in Nakuru East. The 'Lake Nakuru Biodiversity Conservation Project' will involve increasing water supply through new boreholes, rehabilitating water reticulation systems, revitalizing pipelines, optimizing existing wellfields, and constructing water reservoirs. The five-year project will be implemented by the Central Rift Valley Water Works Development Agency in collaboration with the Nakuru County Government.
The governor stated her administration's intention to expand the sewerage system to various Nakuru city estates, which have long relied on alternative waste disposal methods, including septic tanks. Expansion of the over 60-year-old sewerage system will relieve residents who have contended with a dilapidated system under pressure from population growth.
Currently, only Milimani, Langa Langa, London, the town center, Racecourse, and Freehold estates have access to sewerage services. A significant number of city estates, including affluent ones, are not linked to the sewer system. These include Bismarck, Kenya Industrial Training Institute (KITI), Kiamunyi, and Ranges View, which adjoins the affluent Milimani. Others not connected to the main sewer line include Ngata, Mwariki, Baruti, Langa Langa, and informal settlements like Kivumbini, Lake View, Kwa Rhoda, Kaptembwa, Kaloleni, and Bondeni.
Residents in these estates rely on septic tanks, hiring exhaustors when full, charging between Sh2,000 and Sh3,000 per trip to remove waste to the main sewer treatment plant. Kihika observed that upgrading the sewerage system is set to reduce overloading impacts leading to leakages. Since Nakuru attained city status, sanitation must be prioritized, ensuring clean water and a proper sewerage system.
Under the project, the devolved unit will revamp the sewage system to increase its coverage in Nakuru East, Nakuru West, and other areas incorporated into Nakuru city.