Over 200 households in Muminji Ward, Embu, have benefitted from rehabilitation of Itira Earth Dam by the County Government in conjunction with World Bank Funded National Agricultural and Rural Inclusive Growth Project (NARIGP).
The dam set to provide residents who are mainly famers with domestic and irrigation water is one of such similar projects being undertaken by the devolved unit to alleviate water shortage in the ASAL area.
Other dams that have so far been rehabilitated include Gitinangugu in Mavuria Ward and Kangondo in Kiambere Ward.
Speaking while commissioning the dam on Friday, Governor Cecily Mbarire said plans were underway to construct more such dams to harvest rainwater and sink boreholes across the expanse Mbeere North and South Sub-counties to alleviate perennial water shortage.
She said by so doing, they hope to turn the areas endowed with fertile soils into the next county bread basket.
The Governor said they had already procured a borehole drilling machine specifically for the two dry Sub-counties adding the machine will drastically reduce the cost that could have been incurred in outsourcing the services.
Mbarire said they are still pushing for construction of the proposed mega dams including Thuci, Rupingazi, Kamumu and Thambana by the National Government that will greatly assist in unlocking the county’s agricultural potential.
The residents hailed the development of rehabilitating the dam, saying it will go a long way in enhancing food production and security in the area as well as boost their incomes.
Farmer James Ngari said they have been spending 60 percent of their time searching for water, time that he noted could have otherwise been spent in their farms it they had water.
He called on the devolved unit to have at least one dam constructed within a radius of three to five kilometers to see to it that all residents have access to water.
By Samuel Waititu
