Murang’a County Government has embarked on an elaborative plan to work with local water firms to increase water coverage to more than 90 per cent.
Governor Irungu Kang’ata said Thursday that all five water firms have agreed to transfer their ownership to the county administration, thus giving the devolved unit an opportunity to channel resources to the companies in an effort to increase water connections.
Speaking in Mugethu area in Kambiti ward, the governor noted that water coverage in the county currently stands at 65 per cent, saying Kandara and Maragua constituencies have low water connections as compared to other parts of Murang’a.
He confirmed that already two water firms, Murang’a Water and Sanitation Company (Muwasco) and Gatanga Community Water, have transferred their ownership to the county administration.
“The other three water firms, including Gatamathi, Murang’a West, and Murang’a South, have agreed to transfer the majority of their shares as directed by Wasreb to the county government, thus giving us a legal framework to fund the companies,” said Dr. Kang’ata.
He continued, “In this year’s budget, we have allocated Sh350 million to accomplish various water projects, which will be done by the water companies within the county. Most of the projects will be implemented in Maragua and Kandara sub counties.”
During the occasion, Kanga’ata launched the Maragua Ridge water project to benefit more than 10,000 local residents.
Muwasco Managing Director Engineer Danael Ng’ang’a remarked that the project, which commenced a month ago, will cost almost Sh345 million.
He said so far, 200 homesteads and 10 public institutions have already been connected to clean water.
Maragua Ridge, which is in Kambiti Ward, lies under Murang’a South Water and Sanitation Company, but the county administration has given the area leeway to be supplied with water by Muwasco.
Ng’anga noted that they have installed a 15-kilometre pipe network to facilitate the connection of water to Maragua Ridge and Mugetho villages.
“We are working to install another 25-kilometre pipe as we target by the end of this year to connect more than 10,000 people from this area and also extend water supply to neighbouring sub locations including Saba Saba,” added Ng’ang’a.
The director called upon locals to protect installed water infrastructure, admitting that the firm has incurred huge losses occasioned by vandalism at water firms.
“We appeal to locals to own the water project and protect water infrastructure. This will ensure they access water without disruptions. In some areas, vandalism of water pipes has disrupted the water supply, leaving homes without the commodity for several days,” stated Nga’ng’a.
Kambiti MCA Laban Chomba lauded the project, saying it will be a big relief to local residents, who for a long time have suffered from a lack of water.
Chomba divulged that the ward, with a population of more than 20, 000 people, had no piped water as residents relied on boreholes and rivers.
“Residents of this ward, which is semiarid, have suffered as they search for water. This project will have a big impact on local residents. It’s my appeal for the county government in the near future to consider establishing an irrigation project to support farming,” he added.
By Bernard Munyao
