More than 25,000 households in Kisumu and neighbouring Maseno are set to access reliable clean water following the launch of a large-scale expansion under the Lake Victoria Water and Sanitation Programme. The project, flagged off in Obwolo by Water Cabinet Secretary Eric Mugaa, is being hailed as a crucial investment that will ease persistent shortages in one of Kenya’s fastest-growing urban regions. Kisumu Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o described the initiative as a game changer, saying it marks a turning point in efforts to provide equitable water distribution across the city.
The Phase II Lot 1 programme—implemented by the Lake Victoria South Water Works Development Agency—will significantly broaden the existing network by adding 156 kilometres of new pipelines within Kisumu and 25 kilometres in Maseno Township. To improve storage capacity, four elevated tanks with a combined capacity of 1,450 cubic metres will be constructed at Obwolo, Bukna, Maseno town and Maseno market. Works will also include rehabilitating an old borehole in Maseno and drilling a new one to stabilise supply for the expanding population. The Sh8.6 billion investment is jointly financed by the Government of Kenya, the French Development Agency, the European Investment Bank, and the European Union.
Speaking at the groundbreaking, CS Mugaa said demand for water in Kisumu has long outpaced supply due to population growth, ageing infrastructure and high losses caused by leaks and vandalism. He noted that the broader Lake Victoria programme is being rolled out in phases, with Phase I nearing completion and Phase III expected to upgrade the Dunga intake works and Nyalenda treatment ponds. To curb water losses—currently estimated at 38 per cent—the ministry has supplied the county with leak detection equipment, vehicles and a dedicated water security unit to deter vandalism and protect installations.
Development partners praised the project as a timely intervention for a city experiencing rapid urbanisation. Representatives from France and the EU highlighted the long-standing collaboration aimed at expanding access to clean water across Kenya. Governor Nyong’o reaffirmed the county’s commitment to modernising essential services, emphasising that reliable water supply is central to Kisumu’s vision of becoming a thriving lakeside metropolis. He said the expansion will greatly benefit informal settlements and growing peri-urban communities, ensuring residents have access to dignified, safe and dependable water services.