The Nyandarua County Commissioner (CC), Boaz Cherutich has directed residents of Kiriita and Leshau Pondo wards to allow the laying of water pipes in their farms.
Cherutich said that no compensation will be made to parcel owners who will be affected, even as the rehabilitation of Leshau-Karagoini water project enters the distribution stage.
“We are not going to make any compensation for parcels of land that will have these pipes. Residents should desist from this notion that the government will always buy land to undertake projects,” warned Cherutich.
A section of residents have denied way leaves to the project being undertaken by the Rift Valley Water Works Development Agency (RVWWDA), causing the contractor to result to road reserves, further delaying the project.
“We anticipate the completion of the project to be in four months. So far the progress is at 72 percent with the laying of mains to Ndemi, Mathenge and Kimaru tanks almost complete.
“The road reserves option is longer and expensive considering the allocations of Sh.96 million that had not factored in the diverted route. RVWWDA will also be required to seek authority from the Kenya Rural Roads Authority, a process that may further delay the much envisaged project,” noted Eng. Charles Murage.
The Leshau-Karagoini water project funded by the National Government through the Kenya Water Security and Climate Resilience Project, is expected to ease access to water in the semi-arid Ndaragwa Constituency.
The reservoir and pump house, located at Mairo Inya on the outskirts of Nyahururu town, has a capability of pumping 2,000 cubic meters of water per hour and is anticipated to reach over 67, 000 households with the precious liquid.
“The water will cost Sh.80 for every cubic meter which is much lower than Sh.550 that the Nyahururu Water and Sanitation Company is charging at from every household,” noted the Project site manager, Peter Ndegwa.
The water project has in the recent past been a bone of contention with the county government leaders led by Shamata MCA, Reuben Gitau, claiming that they lobbied for its funding.
The Ndaragwa MP. Jeremiah Kioni has from time to time defended the national government project saying the county government should stop seeking mileage on the project.
By Anne Sabuni
