By Elvis Wasike
In a significant step towards addressing the water challenges in Kenya's rural regions, the government has commissioned a Sh10 million water project at Chuchuniat Primary School in Kesses Constituency, Uasin Gishu County. The project, implemented by the Lake Basin Development Authority (LBDA), is expected to transform the lives of thousands of residents by providing reliable access to clean and safe water.
The Cabinet Secretary for ASALs and Regional Development, Hon. Beatrice Askul Moe, officiated the commissioning ceremony at Chuchuniat Primary School. Addressing students, parents, teachers, and community members, CS Moe emphasized the government’s commitment to improving access to basic services in marginalized and underserved regions.
“This project is okay, and I can confidently say the challenges students have faced due to lack of water will now be a thing of the past,” said CS Moe. “I know the difficulties this community has gone through — especially our women, who have walked long distances in search of water. We will continue supporting them, because no one should have to suffer alone. From now on, water will be available right here in the school and at the doorstep of thousands of homes.”
The water project is designed not only to serve Chuchuniat Primary School but also the surrounding community, reaching an estimated 9,500 households. Residents, particularly women and children, have long suffered from water scarcity, which affects not just domestic life but also education, hygiene, and health.
Kesses Member of Parliament, CPA Julius Ruto, joined the CS at the commissioning and welcomed the project with optimism, describing it as a game-changer for the constituency.
“We are happy to host the CS today and even happier to witness this milestone,” said MP Ruto. “This water will benefit students during the school day and serve families during the dry season, when water becomes almost impossible to find. Women especially have suffered due to the lack of nearby water sources. I call upon the CS and her Ministry to consider implementing more water projects in Kesses, because the need is still great.”
“This marks the beginning of a new chapter — one where access to clean and reliable water is no longer a barrier to education and daily life,” he added. “This project reflects our shared commitment to uplifting rural schools and promoting community well-being through sustainable development. We are building a future where every child learns in a healthy, dignified environment.”
LBDA's Role and Vision for Sustainable Impact
Wycliffe Ochiaga, the Managing Director of the Lake Basin Development Authority (LBDA), said the agency had conducted extensive stakeholder engagement before initiating the project. LBDA, a national government agency operating across 18 counties, is mandated to promote social and economic development within the lake basin region.
“We are here today to commission a water project worth ten million shillings — one that came about after we realized, through our engagements with the community, that water scarcity was negatively impacting both learning outcomes and livelihoods,” said Ochiaga. “Students couldn’t concentrate in class, and families had to travel long distances or rely on expensive alternatives to access water.”
He added that beyond simply building the infrastructure, LBDA had trained a local Water Management Committee that will oversee the day-to-day operation and sustainability of the project.
“This project is not just about water,” Ochiaga explained. “It’s about education, health, and empowerment. Water is a basic human need, and through this intervention, we are addressing a multitude of challenges. Clean water means fewer waterborne diseases like cholera and diarrhea, which affect many rural communities. It also means more children, especially girls, staying in school.”
The commissioning also marks a shift toward community ownership of government-led projects. The Water Management Committee, made up of local residents, has been equipped with skills to maintain and manage the water system long after the official handover.
Improving Education Through Infrastructure
Dr. Isaac Kogo, a member of the LBDA Board of Directors, emphasized the educational benefits of the project. He noted that during the dry season, families would resort to hiring tractors to fetch water — a costly and unsustainable practice.
“This project will serve more than 5,000 people directly, and many more indirectly,” Dr. Kogo said. “By making water readily available, we expect significant improvement in students' performance and attendance. Teachers will also be able to focus more on teaching, rather than managing the effects of water shortages.”
Dr. Kogo pointed out that many students were previously forced to skip classes to help their families fetch water or were affected by illnesses caused by consuming unsafe water.
“This is a holistic investment. It’s about ensuring students are healthy and hydrated so that they can learn. It’s about lightening the burden on mothers and daughters who spend hours searching for water. It’s about building a future where clean water is a right, not a privilege,” he added.
Looking Ahead
The Chuchuniat Primary School Water Project represents a broader shift in how the government, through strategic partnerships with agencies like LBDA, is addressing rural development. It reflects a recognition that access to clean water is fundamental to achieving broader goals in education, health, and gender equality.
Hon. Moe concluded her address by reaffirming the government’s commitment to supporting more projects in Uasin Gishu and beyond.“This is just the beginning. We are working to ensure that every village, every school, and every household has access to safe, clean, and sustainable water. Together, we will build stronger, healthier, and more resilient communities,” she said.
As the water begins to flow at Chuchuniat Primary School, it carries with it the promise of a better future — one where no child is denied an education, no woman bears the burden of long treks for water, and every citizen has access to one of life’s most essential resources.
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