President Uhuru Kenyatta Government’s plans to make Nairobi and other cities water sufficient by the year 2020.
The President was briefed by Ministry of Water and Irrigation officials led by Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa on the projects the Government is working on to plug the 250 million litre water deficit the city faces.
Nairobi receives a daily water supply of 520 million litres of water against a demand of 750 million litres.
The soon to be completed Northern Water Tunnel from Muranga, is expected to increase the water supply to Nairobi by 140 million litres.
An additional 100 million litres or more of water will be supplied to the city through the construction and completion of Karimeni 2 and Ruiru 2 dams.
CS Wamalwa also briefed the President on similar plans to make Mombasa, Kisumu and Nakuru also water sufficient.
According to the CS, Kisumu is expected to become the first city that will become water sufficient after the completion of the Kisumu water supply project.
The plan to increase water supply to the four big towns is part of the government’s initiative to triple the country’s water storage and to also increase the national water coverage from the current 60 per cent to 80 per cent by 2020.
The Mombasa water supply will be boosted by the completion of the Mwache Dam and the Mzima Springs 2 water pipeline projects.
Nakuru’s is expected to become water sufficient by the completion of Itare Dam.
The Government is constructing 60 mega dams spread over all regions of the country.
The Government signed the contract for the construction of Thwake dam which when completed will supply water to most parts of Ukambani counties.
