By Correspondent
The Siaya-Bondo Water and Sanitation Company [SIBOWASCO] has laid out Sh 369M to expand supply and reduce loses.
At the 2026 Annual General Meeting in Siaya, bringing together County Government officials, Board members, development partners, and stakeholders reviewed the performance and set the course for sustainable water service delivery.
Strong Performance Gains, But Cost Pressures Persist
SIBOWASCO recorded significant service improvements in FY 2025/2026. The utility’s national WASREB ranking improved from 62nd to 50th, water coverage increased from 58.85% to 62%, and water quality compliance rose to 96%. Non-Revenue Water [NRW] was reduced sharply from 56% to 40.6% following targeted network interventions.
Despite these gains, operational costs remain a critical constraint. The company spends approximately KSh 60 million annually on electricity, with Abura and South Sakwa schemes alone accounting for nearly KSh 1 million per month each. A further KSh 40 million annually is spent on water treatment chemicals.
“To secure long-term affordability and reliability, SIBOWASCO must transition from grid dependence to green energy,” said CPA Isaiah Adipo, Managing Director. “We are appealing to the County Government to support the rollout of hybrid solar-powered pumping systems. Solarization will cut our power bill, reduce downtime, and protect service delivery from grid shocks.”
Prof. Jacqueline Oduol, CECM for Water, Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources, reaffirmed the County’s commitment to the sector and called for intensified action against vandalism and illegal connections. “These vices directly erode gains made and deny residents water they have paid for. Protecting infrastructure is a shared responsibility,” she stated.
KSh 369 Million Priority Investment Plan for FY 2026/2027
To consolidate gains and address systemic risks, SIBOWASCO presented a phased investment plan totaling KSh 369,000,000, anchored on five priority areas:
A. O&M and Regulatory Compliance – KSh 58,000,000
To stabilize operations and avoid disconnections, the plan seeks one-off clearance of power arrears [KSh 16M], six-month power bridging support during solarization [KSh 30M], and a three-month buffer stock of treatment chemicals [KSh 12M]. Note: The current County budget has provided KSh 10M for power and KSh 1M for chemicals.
B. Energy & Asset Reliability – KSh 123,500,000
This includes solarization of Asembo, Mauna, and Bondo T-Works [KSh 87.5M] to reduce energy costs and downtime, and procurement of standby pump sets [KSh 36M] for Asembo, South Sakwa, Abura, Bondo, and Mauna to eliminate service interruptions during maintenance.
C. NRW Reduction & Network Integrity – KSh 68,000,000
Interventions include replacement of 12km of asbestos pipes in Siaya Town with HDPE/uPVC [KSh 54M], scale-up of District Metered Areas and smart metering [KSh 6M], installation of 400 composite manhole covers and FRP valve chambers [KSh 8M], and restoration of pipelines damaged by road contractors [KSh 8.6M].
D. Storage & Production Capacity – KSh 17,500,000
Rehabilitation of 9 strategic storage tanks across SIBO Technical, Karapul, Awelo, Segere, Boro, Bondo Town, and Asembo–Ndori [KSh 10.5M], and optimization of Abura Dam to restore 2,000 m³/day design capacity [KSh 7M].
E. Wastewater Management – KSh 102,000,000
To address growing sanitation demand, SIBOWASCO proposes a hydraulic assessment and design of trunk sewers [KSh 6M] and Phase 1 upsizing of 5.5km of critical sewer from the Hospital and Affordable Housing project to Pap Kakan Ponds [KSh 96M].
Expected Outcomes
With County and partner support, SIBOWASCO projects:
- Increased production reliability and service hours.
- Significant reduction in power costs through solarization.
- NRW driven below 30% through pipe replacement and smart metering.
- Stabilized storage and restored production capacity.
- Improved compliance with Water Act 2016 and WASREB standards for water quality and wastewater.
“The interventions can be staggered in phases to align with available resources,” CPA Adipo noted. “Our request is for stakeholder consideration and approval of budgetary allocation under the Water, Irrigation, Environment & Natural Resources vote. These are not new costs, but investments that protect public health, optimize existing assets, and expand equitable, safe, and affordable water for Siaya residents.”
The AGM concluded with a renewed commitment from both the County Government and SIBOWASCO to strengthen collaboration, embrace innovation, and accelerate access to reliable water and sanitation services across the county.
