Workers of Kenya Power fix a Transformer

 By Nicholas Anyuor

Migori County Government will allocate funds in its five-year plan to upgrade Gogo hydro-electric project to produce 60 Mega Watts (MW) in efforts to stabilize the electricity needs and to generate revenue for the county.

The County Governor, Zachary Okoth Obado said that currently Migori is facing incessant unstable power supply that has affected most of the operations of industries in urban centres and rural areas.

He added that out of the 60 MW expected to be produced, 15 will be consumed by locals while the balance will be sold to the national grid.

“Migori needs a lot of electricity power for our industries to operate. Regular power outage is really affecting the operations of our Jua Kali sector. Cost of electricity is also very high. I belive that electricity should be made cheaper for the locals to afford,” he said.

Obado said that plans are also underway to partner with the Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) to start a massive electricity connectivity where the county’s department of Water and Energy will allocate funds for the purchase of transformers while KPLC will do the connections.

HEADS ROLLING: Migori county assembly

Water

In his speech during the official opening of the County Assembly after a long recess, the County boss said his government was set to embark on the massive reticulation of water to at least 108, 000 households to increase access to safe and portable water.

“My government will also rehabilitate promising boreholes, protect springs with high yields, and develop dams and other water sources in the county. We are also committed to completing and operationalizing stalled projects across the county,” he added.

Garbage collection

To clean the urban centres in the county, Governor Obado said that the department of Environment has allocated funds to purchase six tracks that will be used in clearing huge backlog of garbage in towns.

In respect to disaster management, the department of environment is also in the process of acquiring two fire engines to assist in prompt fire response in case of fire,” he said.

Tree planting

Earlier, the Governor met the Kenya Forest Research Institute (KEFRI), Director, Ben Chikamai, in efforts to promote environmental conservation by promoting bamboo tree planting.

Chikamai said that bamboo value change can offer employment opportunities to residents of Migori County. He said Rongo Bamboo Nursery model has has employed over 60 youth, women and people living with disabilities through seedlings production.

“Bamboo can give poles, boards, simple furniture using simple tools, bagasse, bamboo cums and cane tops. These are very important economically for our local farmers,” he said.

The governor said that it was also important to apart from planting only bamboo, locals were advised to integrate tree planting so that bamboo, tobacco, sugarcane were also planted to bring products that farmers need and that can also help them in food production.

“I am ready to work together with the KEFRI for our people to benefit from this progranmme,” he said