Born and raised on the shores of Lake Victoria, in Nyandiwa in Suba South, Pamela Adhiambo Otieno, 57, grew up an ardent swimmer and oftentimes spent her time by the waters, be it while washing utensils or just lazing around. Along the way, love-struck, and Pamela had to leave all those for life in Goyo in Kanyamwa. For the last 33 years that love has kept her here, Pamela has had only to nostalgically reminisce over the good old days by the shores. Water, let alone clean water, has been one big mirage in her journey.
"The river beside there has been our source of water. It's unimaginable how we are still alive, not with the bouts of cholera and other waterborne diseases that have often attacked us here," Pamela says drawing our attention to the rumbling of a stream nearby.
Pamela's story is the story of the residents of the Goyo area, the Kanyamwa and the people of Homa Bay County at large. Despite the county being surrounded by the waters of the world's second-largest freshwater lake, life has been dry, literally speaking.
Governor Gladys Wanga's manifesto had water and sanitation as one of her top five priorities. To enhance access to clean water for all county households and institutions was not just a mere catchphrase. There has been a dire need by the residents for water. The county used to lose almost KES 900 million in mitigating water-related ailments, with water-borne diseases contributing the highest morbidity in the county.
To alleviate this burden and to restore dignity and health to people like Pamela, Governor Wanga pledged to sink boreholes and construct water pans in all the wards to supplement the water supply. Besides, the county boss also promised to improve access to potable water within a kilometre radius of every household. The governor was also to avail water kiosks for the rural and peri-urban populations.
On all three fronts, there's a story to tell. The County Government of Homa Bay, under the stewardship of Governor Wanga, already has 71 water projects across all wards in the county; water pans at Sombro-Kapana and Sumba in North Karachuonyo and Ruma-Kaksingri stand out just as much as the Kapiata, God Bondo, Dhok Mit and Kadienge Water Kiosks also do. That the rehabilitation of the Sindo Water Supply Project is nearing completion, among other rehabilitation and reticulation of waterworks in the municipalities of Oyugis and Kendu Bay, is some sweet news to the residents of Homa Bay County.
As Pemela now gets her safe and clean water for her food kiosk and residential use, she only has one wish: "May God grant Nyawang'aya the grace to do what she did to us here at Goyo to all those others still with water challenges."
