The County Government of Turkana has stepped up efforts to enhance access to clean and safe drinking water by reactivating reverse osmosis (RO) plants in Lokapapararie, Turkana Central, and Kaituko in Turkana North.
The initiative aims to ensure a reliable water supply and promote community-led management for long-term sustainability.
In Lokapapararie, the County Department of Water Services delivered a five-month supply of essential treatment chemicals and conducted maintenance work to restore the plant’s full functionality.
The chemicals are vital for treating the region’s saline water, making it safe for consumption by hundreds of households.
Speaking during the exercise, Chief Officer for Water Services, Eng. Mark Achilla, underscored the need for community involvement in sustaining water operations.
He encouraged residents to support the initiative through regular user contributions to cover operations and maintenance (O&M) costs, enhance plant security, and fund future purchases of treatment chemicals.
“We will convene a meeting between the community and TUWASCO to discuss the transition of the plant’s management. In the meantime, the community is expected to pay for the water to keep the plant running,” said Eng. Achilla.
TUWASCO, the Turkana Water and Sewerage Services Company, is a county-owned utility responsible for managing water and sewerage services within Lodwar Municipality and its environs.
The Lokapapararie Water Users Association Chairperson, Mark Ekamais, highlighted the importance of community participation in ensuring the plant’s financial sustainability.
He revealed that the community currently purchases about 30 jerry cans of water daily, well below the 100-jerry-can target needed to sustain operations.
“We need more households to buy water regularly so that we can maintain the plant and continue accessing safe drinking water,” said Ekamais.
Community elder Christine Emanikor shared how the plant has transformed lives in the area, ending years of reliance on unsafe sources.
“Before this plant, we drank water from open wells dug in the laga. Now we buy safe drinking water at Ksh 10 per jerry can,” she said.
“My household of eight consumes two jerry cans every two days, and I plan to encourage others to do the same for their health and the plant’s sustainability.”
Director of Water Services Paul Lotum announced that the department will train both community members and county officers on maintenance, supply management, and minor repairs.
“We are building the community’s capacity to manage and maintain the plant effectively before full handover to TUWASCO,” said Lotum.
TUWASCO’s Acting Managing Director Benedict Ekeru reaffirmed the utility’s commitment to empowering communities to take ownership of local water facilities, sustain O&M activities, and ensure long-term independence.
Concluding the engagement, Eng. Achilla reminded residents of the vital role clean water plays in health and development.
“Water is life,” he said. “Its sustainability depends on the community’s commitment to pay for and protect this essential service.”
The revived RO plants mark a significant step toward achieving sustainable access to safe drinking water in Turkana.