Efforts to expand access to reliable and sustainable water services in Homa Bay County received a major boost today following a high-level engagement between the National Government and the County Government.
The Cabinet Secretary for Water, Sanitation and Irrigation, Eng. Eric Mugaa, paid a courtesy call on the Governor of Homa Bay County, where discussions centred on accelerating ongoing water infrastructure projects and addressing emerging challenges affecting water and sanitation service delivery.
The engagement brought together senior officials from the National Government, County Government and key water sector institutions, including Water Secretary Eng. Samuel Alima, Lake Victoria South Water Works Development Agency (LVSWWDA) Chairman Mr. Dan Omino, OGW, CEO Ms. Jackline Kemunto, Central Rift Valley Water Works Development Agency (CRVWWDA) CEO CPA Douglas Murei, and Water Sector Trust Fund (WSTF) CEO Mr. Willis Ombai.
A key focus of the discussions was the ongoing Last Mile Connectivity works under the Oyugis and Kendu Bay Water Supply Projects, aimed at extending water services to communities that remain underserved.
The programme is being implemented following a Presidential directive by H.E. President William Ruto during the commissioning of the projects in 2024, with the objective of accelerating access to clean and reliable water for residents.
The ongoing Phase II works for the two schemes were merged and procured under a single works contract to enhance efficiency and achieve economies of scale in mobilisation, supervision and contract administration. The works are scheduled for completion on 8th February 2027.
The Last Mile component will deliver 56.9 kilometres of distribution pipelines—28.9 kilometres in Oyugis and 28 kilometres in Kendu Bay—and facilitate 400 new consumer connections, comprising 250 in Oyugis and 150 in Kendu Bay.
The project will also support the construction of two school sanitation blocks at Achego Primary School in Oyugis and Manga Primary School in Kendu Bay. The combined investment for the ongoing Last Mile works stands at KES 151.26 million.
In Oyugis, additional connectivity will target Got Sengre, Kadongo, Ramba, Ringa, Nyangiela, Misambi and Kong’uoma, while in Kendu Bay, the targeted areas include Mawego, Lida, Rakwaro, Adiedo and Kokwanyo.
The delegation also reviewed the broader investments under Phase I of the Oyugis and Kendu Bay Water Supply Projects, which collectively represent significant investment in water treatment, storage, transmission and distribution infrastructure.
Discussions further focused on addressing Non-Revenue Water (NRW) and implementation of the National Urban Programme, with emphasis on improving operational efficiency, sustainability and access to quality water services.
The engagement concluded with an inspection of the Oyugis Water Supply Project, where the delegation assessed progress of the ongoing works and interacted with residents to understand their experiences, views and concerns regarding water service delivery.
HOMAWASCO appreciates the continued collaboration among the National Government, County Government and water sector stakeholders as we work towards expanding water coverage and improving access to reliable, affordable and sustainable water and sanitation services across Homa Bay County.
