Government announces plans to begin construction of 1.3B Kipkaren water project
-We shall no longer tolerate rogue contractors who have formed the habit of abandoning government and donor funded projects-

The government has announced plans to resume construction of a sh 1.3 billion Kipkaren water supply project in Uasin Gishu County after the contractor who was awarded the tender abandoned the site.
Speaking after inspecting the site, Water principal Secretary Paul Ronoh they have terminated with immediate effect the contract of Machiri Company limited that was awarded the multi-billion shillings construction work.
The government, he said, was working closely with the implementing agency; the Rift Valley Water Works Development agency, the local
community and leaders to address challenges that led to the stalling of the project.
“Plans are under way to hire new contractors to resume construction of the water daproject which is one of the national government’s flagship projects in Uasin Gishu County,” said Ronoh.
He castigated a section of contractors in the country for delaying to complete key national projects at the expense of common mwananchi
terming their action as sabotage.
Ronoh said the sector was being undermined by contractors who had failed to deliver on their mandate on time despite the government
meeting part of their bargain
He also expressed concern over rampant cases of illegal water connections across major towns in the country warning that those
involved would face the full force of the law.
The PS reiterated the Kenya Kwanza administration’s commitment to construct 100 mega water dams, 3,000 water pans and 1,000 middle-level dams and bore holes to improve access to the clean water by Kenyans.
“We shall no longer tolerate rogue contractors who have formed the habit of abandoning government and donor funded projects and later rush to claim payments for no work done at the sites,” warned Ronoh.
Ronoh put on notice private developers who have encroached in water catchment areas telling them to vacate the sites or they will be
forcibly evicted by the police officers attached to the water resources protection unit.
“We have deployed police officers from the water resource protection unit to carry out patrol of all water catchment areas and those found to have constructed buildings on the land will be arrested and the property pulled down,” said Ronoh.
The Kipkaren water dam supply project is funded by the national government in conjunction with the African Development Bank and was projected to benefit more than 100,000 residents within Eldoret town and its environs upon completion.
The multi-billion shillings project which is situated in Kapseret Sub County commenced in June 2019 and was expected to be completed by March 2021.
According to the area Governor Jonathan Bii, the project was to provide water to residents living near Eldoret International airport,
Kapseret, Langas and Kipkenyo wards.
The county boss said the water dam was projected to supply 23, 000 cubic metres of water daily to serve 80 to 90 per cent of Langas and 60 to 70 per of Kipkenyo and Kapseret wards.