A major water safety scare has hit Eldoret after the Eldoret Water and Sanitation Company (ELDOWAS) abruptly shut down the Kesses Water Treatment Plant following a chemical spill that contaminated a key river system on Thursday, November 20.
The emergency shutdown was triggered by a truck accident in Matharu, Tarakwa Ward, Timboroa, where a lorry ferrying a white industrial substance—reportedly en route to the Democratic Republic of Congo—overturned and emptied its contents directly into the River Kipkarren-Bindura-Kesses water network.
According to eyewitnesses, the unidentified chemical quickly spread downstream, prompting a rapid response from ELDOWAS, which confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Friday.
“As a precautionary measure, the Kesses Plant has been temporarily shut down to prevent any risk of contaminated raw water entering the treatment system,” ELDOWAS said, noting the direct flow of the polluted water into the Kesses Dam catchment.
The affected river feeds straight into Kesses Dam, one of the most critical water sources for Eldoret residents. The shutdown means thousands may face disruptions as experts rush to determine the nature and danger level of the spilled substance.
Specialised ELDOWAS water-quality teams have already been deployed to conduct upstream and downstream sampling, including within the dam itself. Multi-agency responders are working to assess the type of chemical involved and the potential environmental and public-health impact.
Authorities have urged residents—especially those living near rivers and water points—to exercise maximum caution.
“Report any unusual smells, colours, or frothing in water sources immediately,” ELDOWAS warned, calling for public vigilance as investigations proceed.
The spill comes barely a month after the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) was forced to dispel panic over alleged methanol contamination risks in alcoholic drinks. KEBS reassured Kenyans that all methanol in the country is heavily denatured with denatonium benzoate, making it impossible to mistake for alcohol.
The agency highlighted strict standards governing methanol handling, transport, and denaturing—emphasising that misuse is tightly controlled.
With the Kesses water plant offline, authorities may enforce temporary supply rationing depending on contamination levels. The full environmental impact remains unknown until laboratory results confirm what exactly leaked into the river.
For now, ELDOWAS maintains that shutting down the plant was the safest option—ensuring no potentially toxic water reaches Eldoret households.
As investigations continue, residents are advised to stay alert and follow updates from ELDOWAS and county authorities.
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