Nyong'o commissions Sh207 million waste water plant

By Peter Ochieng

Kisumu governor Anyang' Nyong'o on Thursday commissioned a massive waste water treatment plant in the Lakeside County.

The new plant was constructed by the Coca Cola Beverages company, in a bid to ensure that only treated waste water gets into Lake Victoria, to prevent pollution of the fresh water body.

Speaking during the commission of the plant at Equator Bottlers in Kisumu, governor Nyong'o thanked the company for pumping Sh207 million into the project.

"But of immense importance to us is today’s function. You have invested a whooping US$2 million (About 270 Million Kenya Shillings) in a new environmentally friendly wastewater treatment plant," said Nyong'o.

"We as the County Government of Kisumu are interested in this investment because it will not only help you to meet the global standard in waste water treatment but will help in protecting our environment."

"It is encouraging to note that Waste-water from the factory process is channelled to the Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP) for treatment before discharge to the Kisumu County sewer," he added.

He urged companies in Kisumu yet to install waste water management systems to follow in the footsteps of Coca Cola.

"I chose to grace this occasion because I wanted to congratulate Coca-Cola Beverages Company and pass a message to industries that are yet to install waste water management system and continue to pollute our rivers and Lake Victoria."

He said pollution of the Lake has come with devastating effects in the recent past, occasioned by fish kills due to low oxygen levels.

Farmers counted massive loses as fish in both the cages and natural waters died towards the end of 2022.

"Fish farmers, recently lost fish worth hundreds of millions of shillings after tons of fish died in the cages in what scientists link to low oxygen levels," said the governor.

Nyong'o said the Lake must be protected at all costs, given the fact that it is a source of livelihood to millions of people in the region.