A Murang’a water firm has stepped up efforts to connect the less disadvantaged homesteads with water for domestic use.
Murang’a Water and Sanitation Company (MUWASCO) in partnership with a section of local leaders is currently connecting poor families with water for free, aiming to attain 100 per cent water coverage.
The company’s Communication Officer Jacob Mbuthia on Wednesday said about two per cent of homesteads within the firm’s area of jurisdiction were not connected to piped water.
“MUWASCO currently has attained about 98 per cent water connection in the area of our jurisdiction and we have established the remaining two per cent comprises the less fortunate, disabled and the aged who have no financial ability to pay for connection.
We have partnered with some local leaders to ensure the less disadvantaged have clean water as we aim to achieve 100 per cent coverage,” he said during an occasion where they connected water to the homestead of Eunice Wambui, a granny who is visually impaired.
Mbuthia averred with help of local leaders, they will be able to reach the targeted families and ensure they have clean water.
Currently MUWASCO has connected more than 150, 000 homesteads with piped water within its area of jurisdiction.
The water firm serves two wards including Murang’a Township and Mbiri. Majority of those yet to get connected to the commodity are from Mbiri ward.
Mbuthia observed that the company has an initiative dubbed pro-poor programme, where they freely connect the less disadvantaged with clean water.
“So far we have connected more than 300 homesteads with clean water and within the next five months we are aiming to attain 100 per cent water coverage in the area we serve,” he added.
The efforts by MUWASCO to reach the poor comes when there is a heated debate among the locals on which firm should supply water to Maragua and its environs, an area which lies under Murang’a South Water and Sanitation Company (MUSWASCO).
Mbuthia reiterated that they are determined to ensure all the poor in their area have water saying if they will be requested to extend their jurisdiction, they have the capacity to serve more people.
Meanwhile, he revealed that MUWASCO has embarked on tree planting at water catchment areas saying the recent drought affects steady supply of water.
“MUWASCO is currently taking advantage of ongoing rains to plant and conserve our water catchment areas. We are targeting to plant more than 10, 000 seedlings so as to mitigate the effects of drought,” he added.
Speaking during the occasion, Mbiri Ward MCA Bernard Ruiru underscored the move by MUWASCO saying in his area, more than 200 families are unable to pay for water connection.
He stated that partnership with the water company will alleviate water challenges facing some parts of his ward.
“From what we gathered in public participation forums, locals want water and it is fortunate that MUWASCO has come out to engage us and facilitate connecting the poor with clean water. The programme will also see some local schools get piped water,” observed Ruiru
He called other local water companies to employ the strategy being used by MUWASCO so as to ensure Murang’a County attains 100 per cent water connection.
By Bernard Munyao
