County Government of Laikipia

The American Government has granted Laikipia Kshs. 130 million for the Nanyuki Bulk Water Supply project.

The project involves the construction of a reservoir across the Likii Central River, expansion of the treatment plant, construction of additional storage tanks and a water distribution network.

It also includes bulk water supply to upcoming market centers and bulk raw water for small-holder irrigation schemes targeting organized farmer's groups/cooperatives in Nturukuma, Sweet Waters, Njoguini, and Jua Kali/Mukima. It will ensure that Nawasco has enough water reserves to meet demands from consumers within Nanyuki and its environments.

Once complete, Nawasco will be able to expand its coverage to unserved/underserved areas, enhance access to clean, affordable, and sustainable water supply even during dry periods, and control flooding and related erosion affecting downstream users.

The funds channeled through United States Agency for International Development's water, sanitation, and hygiene finance program, will support Nanyuki Water and Sanitation Company (Nawasco) in carrying out geotechnical investigation, Environment and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA), and stakeholder engagement.

Request for Proposal to undertake a topographical survey, Geophysical exploration, and geotechnical exploration, dam engineering, and water treatment design was issued on 12 ^th July 2021 and closed on 30 ^th July 2021. Evaluation of bids was going on last week.

Approval

The engineering dam design will enable Laikipia to go for a PPP model of financing this project. Water CECM Peter Matunge said.

Proposed to be financed through a public-private-partnership model, the project will serve an estimated 23,000 households in Nanyuki town and its environs.

A team of stakeholders driving the realization of the project will have an opportunity to learn from Kigali Bulk Water in a three-day exchange program courtesy of the WASH-fin fund.

This is a critical step towards getting actual results from the said project after several feasibility studies over the last 11 years.

The government has already received approval from Kenya Forest Service (KFS) board to carry out geotechnical investigation and the environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA).

The total project's scope covers an establishment of a 32m high embankment dam on the Likii Central River and expansion of the Bulk water supply treatment facility: to increase the capacity of the treatment facility to 45, 969 cubic meters/day capacity, as well as have distributions mains of approximately 50km, including storage tanks.

It also covers an expansion and rehabilitation of the water distribution network in Nanyuki town and environs, using an operator contract. The contractor to do the activity through the Kshs 130m WASHFIN grant will be required to cover the following: topographical survey, geophysical exploration, geotechnical exploration, dam engineering design, and water treatment design.