First Lady Margaret Kenyatta on Thursday assured of the government’s commitment in providing clean drinking water.
She said lack of clean water was contributing to cases of school going children suffering from water borne diseases and consequently failing to attend lessons.
“Women and children were most affected due to lack of clean drinking water,” Mrs. Kenyatta said as she commissioned Kajuki Water Treatment plant in Tharaka Nithi County.
She said the water project, funded by Rama Katha Nairobi Famine Relief Fund, would relieve at least 25, 000 locals from drinking dirty water that has been the main cause of frequent cases of cholera outbreak in the region.
Mrs. Kenyatta was accompanied by Zimbabwe’s First Lady, Amai Auxillia Mnangagwa who asked the locals to own up the project and take care of it so that they would continue benefiting.
“My home country has been facing similar challenges of water borne diseases and I have so far gained a wealth of experiences from my counterpart,” said Mrs. Mnangagwa.
The Water and Sanitation Cabinet Secretary (CS), Simon Chelugui said the ministry aimed at increasing the universal water coverage from 60 percent to 80 percent by 2022.
Chelugui said the country was facing a serious waste drainage problem in its major cities resulting to waterborne diseases due to lack of proper sewage system.
To ensure that the towns have proper sewer system, the CS said 28 towns in the country would soon benefit with modern sewage system, including Chuka and Chogoria towns in the county at a cost of Sh.1 billion each.
The Tharaka Nithi Governor, Muthomi Njuki said his government was doing everything possible to ensure that every household has access to clean drinking water.
He said clean water was very crucial in realization of universal health care, one of President Uhuru Kenyatta Big Four Agenda.
“We are in the process of starting a Sh.200 million water project that will serve residents of Tharaka around River Tana,” Njuki said.
The Kenya Red Cross Secretary General, Abbas Gullet said water, food security and health were key entry points for realization of universal health care.
By Kenneth Marangu
