Water shortage in Mjini slums in the outskirts of Meru town will be a thing of the past after the County CEC for Health Dr. Meshack Mutuma commissioned a borehole at the Meru level 5 cancer centre.
Speaking to the media during the commissioning, Dr. Mutuma said that the drilling of the borehole comes barely a week after area Governor Kiraitu Murungi visited residents of Mjini area promising them a solution to curb water shortage, a major problem in the area.
“The borehole once complete will serve the people of Mjini as well as ensuring sufficient water for construction of structures in the Cancer Centre that will be commencing very soon,” added Dr. Mutuma.
The County CEO for Water and Irrigation Mr. Joseph Mbeeria noted that the project would be in use after 14 days.
He added that the first three days would involve hydrological survey which was already ongoing, after which drilling would follow immediately, casing and test pumping will take up to three days and finally civil work which makes the project construction last for 14 days.
Mbeeria added that Kiraitu is envisioned in ensuring sufficient water supply in the whole county and by 2027, there will be nobody lamenting of water shortage.
“In the last five years, Kiraitu has been able to drill 240 boreholes that are supplying water across the county, and in his current manifesto, he is promising to drill 400 more boreholes which will be used domestically and in farming if re-elected,” said Mr Mbeeria.
Mrs Amina Mukiri, a resident of Mjini and the secretary to the Executive Committee, a body that is involved in slum upgrading, expressed her joy noting that drilling of a borehole in the area was a milestone and called on the residents to accept the project and use the water responsibly.
Also reacting to the commissioning of the project, the community Chairman of the Mjini Mosque and Madrassa Association Mohammed Ahmed thanked Governor Kiraitu and urged the residents of Mjini to re-elect him in the forthcoming elections to give him more time to eradicate water crisis in Meru County.
By Brenda Gakii and Muguongo Judy
