The County Government of Machakos has set aside Sh18 million to desilt dams in Mwala Sub County before the onset of the October -December short rains, Sub County Water Officer James Mutala has said.
Mutala said the government plans to desilt two dams in each of the six wards at an estimated cost of Sh1.5 million per dam to alleviate water shortage in the area.
Speaking today during a validation exercise for World Vision Kenya programmes for the 2022/23 fiscal year in Masii, the water officer said the exercise has already kicked off in other sub counties and will soon begin in Mwala.
“The machinery is already desilting dams in other parts of the county and will very soon start in Mwala,” he added.
Mutala however noted that most of the dams in the sub county had dried up due to the prevailing drought situation occasioned by poor rains in the last season.
“The sub county has 130 dams but only a few have water currently, but we have 111 functional public boreholes supplying water to the community, “revealed the water officer.
He decried vandalism of boreholes and called for interventions from relevant authorities to stem the vice.
“What were are witnessing is unprecedented. The vandals steal everything from pumps, pipes, solar panels and even power cables. It is terrible,” said Mutala.
He called on World Vision and other non-state actors to partner with the county government to increase accessibility of water to residents.
By Roselyne Kavoo
