Murang’a will be the first County to attain universal domestic water supply by 2021, Water and Irrigation Cabinet Secretary (CS), Simon Chelugui has said.
Chelugui stated that several programmes have been rolled by the government in parts of the county to ensure residents of Murang’a access clean piped water within the next three years.
The initiative, Chelugui observed that it is one way to complement people of Murang’a as the county has been main source of water supplied to neighbouring counties, including Nairobi city.
Chelugui was speaking during funeral ceremony of the mother of Joseph Irungu who is Principal Secretary in his ministry at Kahuro area of Murang’a County on Monday.
He observed that the county is endowed with many permanent rivers and the residents should not face challenge in accessing clean water.
“Most of water supplied to Nairobi and other counties, including Machakos and Garissa is sourced from Murang’a and we must give the resident priority when rolling out water programmes,” he added.
Ndakaini dam which is the main water reservoir for Nairobi is located in Gatanga sub county of Murang’a.
The government, the CS noted will continue to support conservation of water towers to ensure continues flow of water in the rivers.
“Already water programmes have been rolled out in Gatanga and Kigumo sub counties and we expect within a period of three years all homesteads in the county will access water,” he divulged.
Chelugui was responding to Nyandarua governor, Francis Kimemia ‘s concerns on central region people’s suffering due to lack of water despite the region being source of water used in other places.
Kimemia who attended the burial said government should embark on ambitious programmes of ensuring people in central region get connected to clean water for domestic use.
“The people neighbouring Aberdare and Mount Kenya forests play key part in conservation of the forests which are sources of water and the same people face challenge in accessing water in their farms,” said Kimemia.
Meanwhile, Kememia asked people from counties within central region to give their governors time to spearhead development.
He noted the governors are united to mobilise resources which will ensure development projects in various sectors are attained.
“As governors from this region we usually meet to brainstorm how to attain development agenda and we are also exploring ways on how to mobilise resources to boost agriculture and industrial sectors among others in the area,” said Kimemia.
By Bernard Munyao