A Murang’a Water Company backed by the county administration has rolled out a project aimed at connecting thousands of households in the Kambiti ward with clean water for domestic use.
Murang’a Water and Sanitation Company (Muwasco) has so far connected more than 1, 000 households from the semi-arid ward in Murang’a South Sub County with clean water. The company is currently pumping about 1, 000 cubic metres of water daily to the area from the Kayaweh Water treatment plant located in Kiharu constituency.
Governor Irungu Kang’ata has said his administration is supporting the water firm to distribute the commodity to the area where the residents have suffered as they search for clean water.
He said Kambiti is supposed to be supplied with water by Murang’a South Water and Sanitation Company but the firm has been unable to reach its services to the ward.
“Muswasco is still under national government and regulated by the Water Services Regulatory Board (Wasreb), but since Muwasco and other four water firms have transferred their services to the county government, we will support them to take the crucial commodities to areas without water,” said Kang’ata as he launched the project on Monday at Kambiti shopping centre.
He asked Wasreb not to interfere with the county government’s plans to increase water coverage in the whole of Murang’a.
Kambiti, Kang’ata said, being a semi-arid area, residents have suffered as they search for water from few local populated sources.
“It’s the first time for Kambiti to get piped water. This will boost social and economic activities in the area,” he added.
On his part, Muwasco Managing Director Engineer Daniel Ng’ang’a explained apart from the 1, 000 households, 15 institutions including schools, a government prison and mango processing factories, have been connected with clean water.
Ng’ang’a observed the company is slated to use close to Sh. 200 million tons to ensure all households in Kambiti are connected with water.
“Our target is to ensure more than 20, 000 residents of Kambiti ward get water at their homes. The project will be implemented in phases and with the support of the county government,” remarked Ng’ang’a.
The director noted the company is working to expand its water treatment plant and get more water sources to ensure a reliable water supply considering the increased number of consumers.
Currently, Murang’a County has a water coverage of about 67 percent with Kambiti ward recording the least water connections.
Maranjau Primary School head teacher Robert Gakinya lauded the project saying his pupils have been saved from taking contaminated water sourced from Sabasba River.
“Our students have often suffered from water diseases and now having piped water in their school is a boost in their education. We have been sourcing water from a river which is more than a kilometre from the school but now we are relieved,” added Gakinya.
On her part, a resident Mary Wambui called the water company to connect all the 11 villages in the ward.
“Currently one ward is connected with the ward and we appeal for extension of the services to all villages in this ward. The water will also boost businesses at Kambiti shopping centre,” said Wambui.
By Bernard Munyao
