Eldoret Water and Sanitation Company has suspended operations at the Kesses Water Treatment Plant after a chemical spill in Matharu, Tarakwa Ward, on Thursday, November 20, raised concerns about possible contamination of a major river system that feeds the facility. The plant supplies water to thousands of residents.
In a statement on Friday, the utility said the shutdown is a precaution as investigations continue into the nature of the spilled substance. The incident occurred after a lorry transporting a white industrial chemical and reportedly heading to the Democratic Republic of Congo overturned, releasing its contents into the River Kipkarren, Bindura, Kesses system.
ELDOWAS noted that the affected river is directly linked to the Kesses Dam catchment, which raises the seriousness of the situation since raw water could enter the treatment system before assessment is completed. The company said the suspension will remain in place until the contents of the chemical cargo are verified.
Specialised teams have been deployed to carry out water sampling at multiple points upstream and downstream to determine whether contaminants have entered the system. Residents have been advised to stay alert and report any unusual smells, colours, or foaming in nearby rivers or water sources.
The response is being handled by a multi agency team, with the company assuring consumers that the precautionary measures are intended to prevent unsafe water from reaching taps.
The incident comes a month after the Kenya Bureau of Standards moved to reassure the public that the country is not facing a threat of methanol poisoning from counterfeit or tainted alcoholic beverages. KEBS said all methanol in Kenya must be denatured with denatonium benzoate, a compound that is extremely bitter and makes accidental consumption nearly impossible. It added that both locally produced and imported methanol must comply with national standards including KS 2471:2013, KS 2582 1:2014, KS 2583:2014, and KS 2584:2018, which guide safety, testing, and transport requirements.
For now, ELDOWAS has urged consumers to be patient as analysis continues, saying the safety of drinking water remains the company’s priority.