{
  "id": 2154054,
  "title": "Homa Bay gets Ksh524 million for water connectivity and sanitation",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/20/homa-bay-gets-ksh524-million-for-water-connectivity-and-sanitation",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-20T14:37:29.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "People Daily Kenya",
    "slug": "people-daily-kenya",
    "url": "https://peopledaily.digital/news/homa-bay-gets-ksh524-million-for-water-connectivity-and-sanitation"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Homa Bay Water and Sewerage Company (Homawasco) has received a substantial Ksh524 million grant from the Kenyan government to enhance water connectivity and sanitation services in Homa Bay County. Water, Sanitation and Irrigation Cabinet Secretary Eric Mugaa announced the funding on August 19, 2026, during an inspection of the Ksh680 million Oyugis Water Cluster Project. Mugaa emphasized that the investment is part of President William Ruto's administration's commitment to expand access to reliable and safe water, particularly in underserved areas. The funds will enable Homawasco to broaden its distribution network, stretching from Oyugis through Homa Bay town to Mbita and Sindo, ultimately improving the lives of more households by providing access to improved water infrastructure. The funding comes after Homawasco Managing Director Tom Nyonje, backed by Governor Gladys Wanga, approached the ministry with concerns over the utility's challenges and the need for additional resources to expand its water supply. Nyonje assured that the newly acquired funds would enable the company to bridge gaps in the existing distribution network and ultimately contribute to bridging gaps in the county's water system. During the inspection, Mugaa expressed concerns over the effectiveness of the filtration system at the Oyugis facility, warning that the current method could compromise the quality of water supplied to residents. However, Homawasco's Managing Director refuted these claims, stating that the filtration and reticulation systems were fundamentally sound. He explained that a recent change in water flow into the system could have created the impression of a filtration issue. The government's investment in Homa Bay's water infrastructure follows recent projects such as the Oyugis Water Cluster Project, which were commissioned recently, with ongoing works aimed at improving water supply in the county.",
  "summary": "The government has allocated Ksh524 million to Homa Bay Water and Sewerage Company (Homawasco) to expand last-mile water connectivity and improve sanitation services across Homa Bay County, in a major boost to efforts to tackle persistent water shortages. The funding was announced by Water, Sanitation and Irrigation Cabinet Secretary Eric Mugaa on August 19, 2026, […]",
  "key_points": [
    "Homa Bay County receives Ksh524 million grant for water connectivity and sanitation.",
    "Funding announced by Cabinet Secretary Eric Mugaa on August 19, 2026.",
    "Investment aims to expand water distribution network and improve access to safe water."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}