Nakuru: Residents of Nakuru are set to benefit from enhanced access to clean and improved sanitation services after the devolved unit announced that upgrade and expansion of the water and sewage system would kick off soon. Governor Susan Kihika said the upgrade dubbed the ‘The Lake Nakuru Biodiversity Conservation Project’ would start in a couple of months, funded by a Sh5.6 billion grant from the German Development Bank.
According to Kenya News Agency, Kihika indicated that one of the highlights of the mega project will be the decommissioning of the 63-year-old Kaloleni Waste Water Treatment Plant. This facility will be phased out, and its waste directed to the upgraded Njoro Treatment Works, which can process 20,000 cubic meters of water per day. In a statement outlining her scorecard for the past year, the governor affirmed that the project will involve expanding the water supply network and upgrading the aged water supply and dilapidated sewerage treatment system. It will also focus on cleaning the water flowing into Lake Nakuru.
The project is essential to safeguard Lake Nakuru from pollution by preventing untreated water from flowing into it. The governor expressed determination to secure the lake’s delicate ecosystem and biodiversity. Towards increasing access to clean and safe drinking water, the governor stated that her administration had drilled 60 boreholes, solarized 45 others, constructed 23 water kiosks, and protected 13 springs across all 11 sub-counties.
The ‘Lake Nakuru Biodiversity Conservation Project’ will encompass increasing water supply through new boreholes, rehabilitation of water reticulation systems, revitalization of pipelines, optimization of existing well fields, and construction of water reservoirs. The five-year project will be implemented by the Central Rift Valley Water Works Development Agency jointly with the Nakuru County Government. The sewer network will be expanded and rehabilitated to handle more wastewater.
Governor Kihika mentioned plans to expand the sewerage system to various estates in Nakuru city, which have long relied on septic tanks and other alternative waste disposal methods. Upgrades are also planned for existing treatment plants in Kivumbini and Mwariki. The expansion of the over 60-year-old sewerage system is expected to relieve residents who have contended with a dilapidated system under pressure due to population growth.
Currently, only a few estates, including Milimani, Langa Langa, London, the town center, Racecourse, and Freehold, have access to sewerage services. Many estates, including Bismarck, Kiamunyi, and Ngata, rely on septic tanks. The upgrade is set to reduce the impact of overloading that leads to leakages, with sanitation given priority in terms of clean water and a proper sewerage system.
Under the project, the sewage system will be revamped to increase its coverage in Nakuru East, Nakuru West, and other areas incorporated into Nakuru City. To improve sanitation, the county has rehabilitated and connected three toilet blocks to the sewerage line at Flamingo Ward within Nakuru East Sub-County. Each block comprises 22 toilets, serving two to three households, benefiting an estimated 150 households.
To improve water project management, community water projects are being transferred to Water Service Providers (WSPs) owned by the devolved unit, including Nakuru Water and Sanitation Services Company (Nawassco), Nakuru Rural Water and Sanitation Services Company (Naruwasco), and Naivasha Water and Sanitation Services Company (Naiwascco). This aims to enhance efficient operations of water projects and minimize interruptions associated with community water projects. Management of Kabatini, Limuko, Amos, and Mzee Wanyama water projects has already been taken over by the WSPs.