The Nakuru County Government has prioritised the development and improvement of water infrastructure throughout the county to increase accessibility to clean water for households.

This comes even as the county faces a huge demand for the commodity with the current supply being insufficient with demand exceeding 50 per cent, according to the County Integrated Development Plan 2018 – 2022.

Nakuru Deputy Governor David Kones noted the county was committed to expanding the scope of water coverage, enhancing the sustainability of projects, and understanding the role of every stakeholder in the water, environment, sanitation, and climate change sectors.

Speaking at Karima Mixed Secondary School in Naivasha yesterday, Kones said the county was also undertaking policy, governance, and legal interventions, to increase water storage, and improve sanitation and food security in the county.

“Nakuru is largely arid and semi-arid, limiting water availability, however, water demand is increasing due to population growth and economic development and as a county, we are on course to improve and develop more infrastructures,” said Kones.

He revealed that the county has implemented several policies and strategies for integrated water management and conservation to address the challenges of water scarcity, pollution, and insufficient use of water resources.

The DG revealed that the county’s main sources of water are rivers, dams, boreholes, and springs, however noting these sources are grappling with the threat from overexploitation, pollution, climate change, and competing uses such as irrigation for agriculture.