Three towns in Murang’a South are set to get a sewer line in an effort to improve health standards of the fast growing urban centres.
Murang’a South Water and Sanitation Company (Muswasco) will spend Sh1.6 billion to put up a sewerage system connecting Kenol, Kabati and Saba saba towns.
The company MD Mary Nyaga has said the project is at the initial stages as they are currently procuring a contractor to work on the sewerage system.
Nyaga noted that Kenol town located along Nairobi-Nyeri highway is a fast growing urban centre but unfortunately the area lacks a sewer line.
The sewerage system will help to improve health standards of the urban centres unlike in the currentl situation where dirty water runs in open furrows.
“Despite the high population in Kenol and Kabati towns, there is no sewer line and the company’s stakeholders have given a nod to implement the project,” she observed during Muswasco’s annual general meeting held at Kenol on Saturday.
On several occasions, residents of Kenol have been staging demonstrations demanding for installation of sewerage system and regular collection of garbage.
Nyaga further said they were in the process of expanding Kinyona Water treatment plant so as to increase the water volume supplied to residents of four sub counties including Maragua, Kandara and Kigumo and parts of Gatanga.
She said the expansion being sponsored by donors and the national government will see residents of Murang’a south get uninterrupted water supply.
Speaking during the same occasion, chairman of the water company Mr. Julius Kamande Manyeki defended the proposal by the company to increase water tariffs.
Manyeki said water companies don’t operate for profit making but to offer services to residents at minimum costs.
Two weeks ago, the company organized a public participation forum to get views on proposed new tariffs, a move which was objected by the county government.
Murang’a governor Mwangi wa Iria has been at logger heads with local water companies for charging high rates for water.
The governor’s efforts saw the water rates reduced two years ago but water companies claim that the money collected cannot meet expenses, thus frustrating operations of the water firms.
The county government has since filed a case in court seeking to block the local water companies from increasing water charges.
By Bernard Munyao
