The quest to provide an inclusive and sustainable sanitation project in Kisumu City got a significant boost following a grant of €800,000 (Sh 117,448,000) secured by Kisumu Water and Sewerage Company (KIWASCO) from the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group.
Dubbed ‘Kisumu City-Wide Inclusive Sanitation’ (CWIS), it will see the construction of a modern Faecal Sludge Treatment Plant (FSTP) jointly undertaken by KIWASCO and Sanivation.
FSTP is a waste-to-energy model specially designed, built, and operated to handle its processing demands.
Through this initiative, the funding will also tackle waste management challenges by providing additional expertise in Master Planning, Waste-To-Value Treatment Plants, and Solid Waste Management.
Kisumu Governor Prof. Anyang Nyong’o said that the CWIS plan will not only help KIWASCO but also the larger community.
“It will create more jobs for the youth and women, improve public health systems, and ecosystem conservation. I have a strong belief and confidence that KIWASCO will deliver,” Nyong’o added when he hosted a delegation from AfDB who paid him a courtesy call at his city hall office recently.
With the growing city population coupled with the increase in faecal sludge volumes, the county boss observed that KIWASCO would face tougher tasks in achieving treatment and effluent standards.
The Maureen Ntege-led African Water Facility(AFW) team is in the lakeside city for a week-long assessment of the water regulatory body’s level of preparedness and capacity to complete the multi-million project.
AFW’s main objective is to mobilize and deploy financial and human resources to ensure water security in Africa.
“This is geared towards achieving the targets and objectives set by the African Water Vision for 2025 and the Sustainable Development Goals – 2030.”
Kisumu Governor Prof. Anyang Nyong’o (seated left) engages in a light moment with the Africa Water Facility team, which paid him a courtesy call at his city hall offices recently. AWF is in the city to assess the level of preparedness and capacity of KIWASCO to undertake the CWIS plan. Photo: Handout
As the sole beneficiary of the AFW grant in Kenya, KIWASCO CEO Tom Odongo reiterated that insights gathered will help shape a well-informed implementation strategy for the CWIS Plan.
” It will ensure that the infrastructure and services offered are customer-centric, and the delivery of FSTP that will improve waste management.”
