Kokwanyo Water Works Ends Decades-Long Water Crisis for Kendu Bay Residents

For years, the lakeside town of Kendu Bay in Homa Bay County faced a paradox of being surrounded by the vast waters of Lake Victoria yet unable to access clean, reliable piped water. This crucial deficiency forced hundreds of residents to rely directly on the lake for all their daily needs, posing significant public health risks.

The long-standing infrastructure challenge is finally being addressed, marking a massive win for regional development and public health with the completion of the Kokwanyo Water Treatment Works.

Implemented under the mandate of the Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation, the new facility represents a critical step in fulfilling the government’s commitment to water security.

The construction phase concluded in February 2025, and the project is now fully operational, awaiting its official commissioning to formalise the service provision.

This development is already shifting the landscape of public amenities and household life across Kendu Town and its environs. The engineering behind the Kokwanyo plant is designed to ensure maximum purity and consistency in supply.

Raw water is extracted from the Awach Kibuon River, a system chosen to bypass potential quality issues closer to the lake shore. This water then flows efficiently by gravity into the treatment plant, where it undergoes a sophisticated, multi-stage purification process.

The system employs key processes, including flocculation, sedimentation, and filtration, meticulously preparing the water before it is stored in the initial holding tank.

The final stage of the water delivery cycle involves a powerful pumping mechanism that pushes the treated and safe water up to a massive 2,000-cubic-metre reservoir tank situated at Ndiru. This elevated storage point is key to maintaining consistent pressure and reliable distribution throughout the service area.
This major intervention has immediately transformed water access for thousands of people, providing clean and safe water not only to urban and rural households, but also crucially supporting schools and vital health institutions, echoing the national infrastructure agenda under the theme #DeliveringThePlan.