Vihiga County residents have started reaping from the Climate Change Resilience Investment Projects by accessing clean piped water.

The water projects are being implemented through a programme dubbed Financing Locally Led Climate Action (FLLoCA), funded by the World Bank (WB).

The area Governor Dr. Wilber Ottichilo commissioned Mudungu and Igogwa boreholes in Wodanga and Central Maragoli wards respectively, that are going to serve hundreds of households in these areas.

Dr. Ottichilo said the solar-powered bore hole water projects would go a long way in building resilience of the local communities by enabling them to have access to clean and safe water during the prolonged dry seasons.

The Governor stated that they are using solar energy so as to cut down the power cost and urged the people to own and protect the projects.

The County head reiterated his commitment to ensure all Vihiga households access clean and safe water by the year 2028 as outlined in the County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP) 2022
-2027.

On his part, the County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for environment, water resources and forestry Onzere Mulongo advised residents to grow bamboo trees along river banks so as to protect the water sources in the county.

The CECM lamented that in the past the residents grew eucalyptus on the river banks, leading to drying up of the streams since they are high water intakes.

He asked those still having the eucalyptus in the riparian areas to uproot and replace them with the indigenous species that are environment-friendly.

Source: Kenya News Agency