Development

Government To Spend Sh80Billion To Rehabilitate Sewers

Published

5 years ago

October 30, 2019

President Uhuru through DP Ruto has said that the government has set aside sh80 billion to rehabilitate and expand sewarage infrastructures in the country.

The President has also directed the Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation to follow inducements intended for increasing use of recycled water to expand irrigation.

DP Ruto while reading the Head of States speech during the official opening of Water and Sanitation Conference at KICC, the President said that there was need to reduce water wastage in the country.

“Industries are required to include pre-treatment facilities in their premises to ensure acceptable standard of waste water is discharged into the sewerage system and to the environment and the rivers,” said President Kenyatta.

President Kenyatta advised the Water Services Providers through the Council of Governors to curb spillage of raw sewerage into water ways. He also noted that major pollution emanates from improper disposal of solid waste, especially in the cities and towns.

“The provision of quality and sustainable water and sanitation plays a focal role in ensuring a healthy nation; if sustained, it breaks the disease-poverty cycle, contributing significantly to poverty alleviation and wealth creation agenda. Dumping of domestic and other solid waste on the river banks is not a solution and must be discouraged,” said President Kenyatta.

“In this regard, I am directing the Ministry of Education to introduce a compulsory curriculum on water and sanitation in all schools,” the President added.

Currently, the access to clean safe water stands at 62 percent while average national sewerage coverage lurch at 25 percent.

*“Hence, we are investing over Sh80 billion for rehabilitation and expansion of sewerage infrastructure in the country; this will increase access to sewerage services to about 40%.” DP said.*

The Head of State noted that the country requires an annual budgetary allocation of Sh 100 billion for the maintenance and rehabilitation of Water and Sanitation infrastructure.

Other leaders present at the conference were Water, Sanitation and Irrigation Cabinet Secretaries Simon Chelugui, East African Community and Regional Development counterpart Adan Mohammed, Senate and National Assembly chairpersons of Committees on Lands, Environment and Natural Resources Paul Githiomo and Kareke Mbiuki and Principal Secretary Joseph Irungu.

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