Mwea residents are a happy lot after commissioning of a Sh.77 million Mwea–Makima water project targeted to supply water to over 30,000 households.
Among the areas to benefit from the project, include Nyangati, Kimbimbi, Ngurubani, Thiba, Gathigiriri and Kiorugari.
The Kirinyaga County Governor, Ann Waiguru while commissioning the water project on Friday said eradication of water borne diseases in the area will translate into more working hours thus improved economy for the residents.
Waiguru said the newly completed water project will supply clean domestic water to residents of Wang’uru and Kimbimbi townships and surrounding areas of Nyangati and Mutithi wards.
“My government has completed a supply line of 200mm pipes over a distance of 31 kilometres from Samson Corner to Wang’uru. We have also put up a treatment tank for chlorine dousing at Samson corner with a 225 cubic meters capacity and storage and distribution tank at Wang’uru Township with a capacity of 30,000 litres,” she said.
The project starts at the intake at upper Nyamindi River which supplies water to the treatment works plant at Samson corner before the water is distributed to the receiving areas at Mwea.
The governor said the residents will now start enjoying the benefits of clean piped water for the first time since independence.
She said the county government was committed to the provision of clean drinking water to all county residents through an elaborate plan to modernize and improve the existing water projects.
Waiguru said provision of clean drinking water for everyone was her main agenda, which must be achieved before the end of her first term in office.
She said after provision of clean drinking water , the next move will be to start small scale irrigation projects which will enable farmers to venture into commercial agriculture on small scale basis.
A cross section of Mwea residents interviewed by KNA expressed gratitude to the governor for completion of the water project and provision of clean drinking water.
Previously, majority of the Mwea residents depended on water from rice canals for their daily consumption which saw an increase of waterborne diseases.
“Waterborne diseases which were prevalent here due to consumption of untreated water from the canals will now be a thing of the past,” said Waiguru.
The governor later distributed water tanks of 1000 litres capacity to 1000 households in Marurumo and Wamumu wards.
The beneficiaries were identified on the basis of being extremely vulnerable. The governor said the families are water stressed and needed urgent intervention.
Other beneficiaries included women groups who received over 200 water tanks of 500 liters capacity which they are expected to use in the rearing of poultry under the county driven Wezesha Program.
The County government has initiated an ambitious programme, targeting to empower women through rearing of poultry, while targeting to produce one million eggs per month to meet the current market deficit.
Women, youth and persons with disabilities are being empowered to take up poultry and other income generating activities under the Wezesha program.
Meanwhile, the provision of safe, clean water for domestic use is of great importance to Mwea residents who have suffered over the years, due to dwindling water levels in major rivers including Nyamindi during dry seasons.
Through the distribution of water tanks to specific households and women groups, residents are being encouraged to supplement water sources by harvesting rain water during rainy seasons.
By Irungu Mwangi
