Angurai: Residents of Angurai East Ward in Teso North Sub-County, Busia County, are set to quench their thirst from a transformative Sh24 million county government flagship water project aimed at addressing acute water shortages in the area.
According to Kenya News Agency, this initiative has brought hope to hundreds of families in the region through the construction of two large water tanks with capacities of 50,000 litres at Kolanya and 100,000 litres at Oshoromo hills in Chamasire area, which will supply water to over 2,000 households, including learning institutions like Kolanya Girls National and Kolanya Boys High School, among other five institutions.
The area Member of the County Assembly (MCA), David Parapara, stated that the project has entered its final stage and is expected to address perennial water shortages by ensuring that every household in villages such as Kolanya, Changara, and Chemasiri has reliable access to clean water. ‘This Sh24 million water project is at final stage and already piping has been done in six sublocations, and by April we will launch the supply officially,’ noted Parapara.
With piping almost complete, the initiative is going to significantly reduce the burden of fetching water from distant sources, something that has plagued the residents for a long time. Speaking to the press at Angurai, Parapara reaffirmed his commitment to improving essential services in Angurai East. ‘Water is life, and this project is a game changer for our people. Once complete, every village will have access to clean and safe water therefore reducing the long distances people, especially women and children, have had to walk in search of this basic necessity,’ he stated.
The community members of Angurai lauded county efforts, terming the initiative a lifesaver because of the prolonged water challenges they have been having. ‘We have suffered for far too long, from perennial water shortages to trekking for long distances to fetch water but now we are happy that this project is going to solve our problems,’ said Janet Wanyama, a resident of Changara.
Local leaders and stakeholders have commended the project and noted its potential to boost economic activities such as small-scale irrigation. This water project is in tandem with broader county and national government efforts to improve accessibility to clean water in rural areas. By leveraging modern infrastructure and strategic planning, the initiative sets a precedent for sustainable development in Teso North. Changara Division is a typical example of a hardship area covered with rocks making water drilling expensive due to long distance to the water table.