Allan Odhiambo
30 September 2009
Nairobi — Thousands of poor urban households will gain access to water and sanitation services in a Sh1.7 billion deal targeting the slums.
"This initiative specifically targets the slums," Mr David Stower, the Water PS, told journalists in Nairobi on Tuesday after signing the agreement on behalf of the government.
The targeted water and sanitation projects will be run as part of a special initiative dubbed the Urban Programme Concept (UPC) and funded through a multilateral agreement between Kenya, the German government and the European Union (EU).
"Households in these urban slums have serious challenges in accessing water year round," the PS said.
Funds from the Sh1.7 billion grant will be managed and disbursed by the Water Services Trust Fund (WSTF) even though the actual implementation of the project will be carried out by Water Service Providers(WSPs) operating in the target areas.
Some 800,000 people are expected to benefit from the initiative to be implemented over the next four years, starting with locations that fall under the Lake Victoria North Water Services Board (LVNWSB).
Estimates by the Water ministry show that only about 60 per cent of Kenya's urban population has access to water while only 55 per cent have access to basic sanitation facilities.
"We expect this initiative to improve the lives of households," Mr Eric van der Linden, the Head of the European Commission delegation in Kenya said.The WSTF made the first call for proposals under the UPC initiative earlier this year.
According to initial estimates, the first phase was projected to encompass 15 projects to reach 100,000 inhabitants of low income urban areas with quality water at a cost of Sh100 million.
Each of the five WSPs that fall within the territory of the LVNWSB including Western, Eldowas, Nzowasco, Amatsi and Kapsabet were invited to submit three proposals each.
A total of 12 proposals were received, with 9 approved upon evaluation.
Call for proposalsAccording to the scope of work outlined in the approved proposals, some 42 new water kiosks will be built, 20 existing ones renovated and 97 new yard taps constructed.
In addition, the existing water supply pipeline within the region will be extended by 25,585 meters and an elevated tank with a storage capacity of 648 cubic meters installed.
On completion, the nine new projects approved in this initial phase within the LVNWSB zone are now projected to cost Sh74 million and to about 150,000 people.
Another call for proposals is expected to be announced next week with the WSFT looking to finance about 25 projects at an estimated cost of Sh200million and to benefit 300,000 people in the low income bracket.
The signing of the funding agreements for this call is planned for January 2010 upon the evaluation and approval of the proposal.
WSTF chief executive officer Mrs Jacqueline Musyoki said the fund targets supplying water to 1.4 million people and sanitation facilities to 400,000 people by 2011.
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"Currently the urban poor pay more for water that is of poor quality and the women and girls take longer to fetch water," she said.
Mr Stower said projects under the UPC would be rolled out in urban areas such Nairobi, Mombasa,Nyeri and Kisumu where thousands of poor households have difficulties in accessing the basic services.
Meanwhile the government expects the current water shortage in Nairobi and its environs to ease in the when the anticipated October-December rains come.
"The Ndakaini dam is currently at 30 per cent of its capacity but we expect it to fully recover within a short time if the rains come.
The rehabilitation of the Sasumua dam is also near complete and we expect stable supplies," the PS said.
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