Vihiga Governor Dr Wilber Ottichilo has commissioned the M’mbworo Water Supply and Catchment Conservation Project in Lugaga-Wamuluma Ward, which is expected to improve access to clean water for 140 households and several institutions.

The project was implemented under the Financing Locally-Led Climate Action (FLLoCA) programme through the Vihiga County Climate Change Fund, with support from the World Bank, Sweden, Denmark and Germany.

Vihiga Governor Dr. Wilber Khasilwa Ottichilo commissions the M’mbworo Water Supply and Catchment Conservation Project in Lugaga-Wamuluma Ward, Vihiga County, Monday, October 5, 2026. The project is expected to improve access to clean water for 140 households and several institutions.

Speaking during the commissioning ceremony at Kitulu on Monday, Governor Ottichilo said the county had implemented 14 water projects this year, with the M’mbworo project being the first to be commissioned.

Ottichilo said the county government would continue working with the project management committee and the area member of the County Assembly to expand the project by installing additional water tanks to enable more residents to benefit.

“The area has a lot of water, and we will continue working with the committee and the area MCA to upgrade the project and add more tanks so that more people can benefit,” he said.

The governor said each of the 25 wards in the county receives Sh20 million for implementation of development projects identified by MCAs.

Deputy Governor Wilberforce Kitiezo said the project would particularly benefit women who previously travelled long distances in search of water.

He urged residents to safeguard the infrastructure to ensure that it serves the community for a long time.

Chief Officer for Environment, Energy, Natural Resources and Climate Change Richard Boiyo thanked residents for their cooperation during implementation and commended the contractor for completing the project.

Boiyo urged beneficiaries to pay water charges based on their consumption to support the sustainability and maintenance of the project.

M’mbworo Water Supply and Catchment Conservation Project.

Director for Climate Change, Environment, Water, Energy and Natural Resources Winstone Atamba said 140 households had been connected to the water supply.

He said institutions benefiting from the project included Milele Hospital, Friends Kitulu Primary School and Madira Girls.

Lugaga-Wamuluma MCA Fredrick Mavisi Muhindi thanked the county administration for addressing residents’ longstanding water challenges, saying the project would serve approximately 16 villages.

Muhindi said the ward had also benefited from water tanks and hand-washing facilities in institutions, which would help improve hygiene among schoolchildren.

Project Supervisor Morphat Onyango said the project involved construction of a 100-cubic-metre clear-water sump, rehabilitation of the spring and construction of an office to house the solar panels and pumping system.

He said a submersible pump had been installed to pump water to the main tank at Friends Kitulu Primary School, from where it is supplied to connected households.

By Yvonne Misango and Florence Oteng’o