Various interventions by the National government has raised water connection coverage in Murang’a County to more than 80 per cent within a period of less than five years.
Water Principal Secretary Irungu Wairagu has said the coverage percentage was at about 52 per cent three years ago, while underscoring government commitment to attain 100 per cent coverage in the near future.
Wairagu observed that the many projects being implemented in Murang’a are as a result of water being sourced from the county to be supplied to other regions including Nairobi City County and its environs.
“The government has prioritized the region in terms of implementing water projects, since a big percentage of water supplied to Nairobi comes from the county,” he said, when he inspected and commissioned various water projects in Murang’a.
The PS said since the Jubilee administration took over the reins of power in 2013, about Sh17 billion has been channeled to implement various water projects in Murang’a County.
He further said most of the community water projects which are still under implementation will be completed before the August 9 general election.
“Works on uncompleted major projects like Ithanga water, Kenol sewerage line and Maragua dam will continue even after the general election. Funds for these projects have already been factored to ensure they do not stall even after another government takes over in August,” explained Wairagu.
Apart from provision of domestic water, the PS noted, water for irrigation has been provided in various parts of the county to promote horticultural farming, with 26 irrigation projects being implemented in areas which receive minimal rainfall to boost farming.
“Already three irrigation projects including Boboti-Kiamande, Githembe and Nyanjigi have been completed and are among the projects we were launching today,” he said.
During the function, a section of area residents asked the government to ensure the ongoing projects are completed before another leadership takes over.
Speaking in Kiunyu area, the residents complained over a myriad of hardship they have undergone over the years in their bid to get water for domestic use.
A resident, Simon Karu averred that despite the county having several permanent rivers, in some parts of the county, residents are forced to walk for long distances in search of the rare commodity.
“We want to appreciate efforts by the government to ensure people access water in their homes, but we appeal for quick implementation of remaining projects. Here at Kiunyu area in Gatanga Sub County we have suffered for long in our daily endeavours to access clean drinking water,” stated Karu.
Some of the water projects the PS visited included Thuita, Kiunyu, Riakomo, Ndunyu Chege and Githanga among others.
By Bernard Munyao
