Kenya inks water and sanitation upgrade deal for Lake region

The government of Kenya has inked an agreement with the European Union (EU), the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the French Development Agency (AFD) for the Lake Victoria Water and Sanitation Project (LVWATSAN) in Kisumu County.

Under the agreement which was validated by President of Kenya Uhuru Kenyatta, EU will support the project with a US $6m grant, while the French Development Agency has agreed to lend an additional US $24m for the project. EIB on his part signed a US $41m loan.

Protecting shared regional water resource

The Lake Victoria Water and Sanitation Project (LVWATSAN) to be implemented by the Lake Victoria South Water Works Development Agency (LVSWWDA), will extend the water supply and sanitation network in Kisumu, including informal settlements, and develop water supply to satellite cities, particularly Ahero and Maseno.

It will also include a component for water quality monitoring for Lake Victoria, meant to protect the shared regional water resource and ensure the water treatment process is more efficient. In addition, there will be a water quality monitoring component for Lake Victoria. The aim is to protect this shared (regional) water resource and to increase efficiency in water treatment.

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“Thousands of Kenyans living on the shores of Lake Victoria will benefit from improved access to drinking water and better sanitation thanks to the excellent cooperation between Kenya, AFD, the EIB and the European Union. This impressive water project will contribute to improving health, reducing child mortality and fighting poverty in communities facing climate change and strengthening efforts to combat Covid-19”, said EIB Vice President Ambroise Fayolle.

Currently Lake Victoria which largest lake by area and the world second-largest freshwater lake by surface area, is experiencing high levels of pollution due to inadequate sanitation infrastructure. AFD has however been financing the rehabilitation and extension of the city’s water supply and sanitation infrastructure since 2005, thus considerably increasing Kisumu’s water production capacity.