Chinese firm, Nanchang Foreign Engineering Company, has officially launched the construction of a US$12 million drinking water plant in Kimugu, Western Kenya.
The Lake Victoria South Water Services Board (LVSWSB) awarded the multi-billion contract to the firm to the company based in China’s Jiangxi province.
The Kenyan government, in partnership with the Kericho county government had acquired more than 4 hectares of land at a cost of US$1 million for the construction of the plant.
The parcel was acquired from Unilever Tea Company in western Kenya.
Nanchang Foreign is expected to build a factory with a daily capacity of 13,000 cubic meters. The treated water in the plant will be pumped into the Kimugu River.
The water pumped into the Kimugu River will flow through a 7.7 km long open-air pipe.
Also read: Veolia supplies packaged boiler water treatment plant in Tanzania
Upon completion, the two years project is expected to provide water to close to 200,000 people in Kericho County raising the water supply by Kericho Water and Sanitation Company Limited (KEWASCO) to 22,000 cubic meters of water per day.
“We have collaborated with county government since 2014 and we really appreciate them. Out of the ten counties that we serve, Kericho is the first county that has really supported the national government by accepting to acquire land towards the project,” said Lake Victoria South Water Services Board CEO, Eng. Petronilla Apiyo Ogut.
According to Kericho county government, the project is aimed at eradicating water scarcity in the region as well as generating jobs to many youths in the area.
The Chinese Company contractor, Eric Wei and the Projects Senior Resident Engineer, Dinesh Hirani both of Nanchang Foreign Engineering Company affirmed their commitment in ensuring successful completion of the project.
“We expect the project to be completed within the agreed time and to the quality required under the contract,” they stated.
