Kirinyaga begins key water project to serve 30,000 households

DAVID WANDETO-KNA

The County Government of Kirinyaga has commenced the laying of underground high-density water pipes to supply clean domestic water to over 30,000 households in Mwea SubCounty.

Work on the extension of the Kandongu–Mutithi bulk water pipeline to supply villages in Mutithi and Wamumu wards has already begun, while the rehabilitation of the Nyamindi intake to serve parts of Nyangati, Gathigiriri, Tebere, and Thiba wards is also underway.

Governor Anne Waiguru, during her development tour in Mwea late last year, said Sh100 million had been allocated to improve access to clean, reticulated water under Phase One of the Mwea bulk water supply project.

Waiguru said the flagship project involves the extension of the main pipeline and feeder lines, rehabilitation of water intakes, and the supply of pipes and fittings to expand access to clean water to eight wards in Mwea Sub-County.

Works for the extension of the Kutus - Kimbimbi bulk water main pipeline and feeder lines to supply domestic water to residents of Gathigiriri, Tebere and Thiba wards are also set to commence.

Murinduko ward will be serviced through the completion of the Mugaru water project. She said Kangai ward will be serviced through the extension of existing lines to areas such as Kombuini, Kangai and Karii.

The Governor said the project will help in significantly improving public health, boosting economic stability and closing long-standing water coverage gaps in the region.

“Once the project is completed, it will bring the percentage of residents with clean access to water to 78 percent in the county.

"Supply of clean water in the villages across the eight wards will help in reducing the burden of waterborne diseases caused through consumption commodity from unsafe sources,” Waiguru said.

Governor Waiguru described the project as part of her broader strategy to enhance dignity, equity and climate resilience across the county.

“Investment in water infrastructure and climate-resilient is not just about pipes and boreholes, it’s about dignity, health and opportunity,” she said.

“By expanding access to clean water and empowering our communities to lead environmental action, we are laying the foundation for a greener, fairer and more prosperous Kirinyaga,” she said.

Speaking during an inspection tour of the ongoing works, County Executive Committee (CEC) Member for Environment, Energy, Climate Change, Natural Resources, Water and Irrigation, James Mutugi, underscored the scale and impact of the initiative. 

“The reduction in waterborne diseases like cholera and typhoid, all which are related to consumption of water from contaminated sources,” he added.

Mutugi said supply of clean water to the community will help reduce disease burden and empower people economically.

“We are saying it is an improvement to the health and also an increase in the economic levels of our people because the monies they have been using to economic stability and closing long-standing water coverage gaps in the region.

“Once the project is completed, it will bring the percentage of residents with clean access to water to 78 percent in the county.

"Supply of clean water in the villages across the eight wards will help in reducing the burden of waterborne diseases caused through consumption commodity from unsafe sources,” Waiguru said.

Governor Waiguru described the project as part of her broader strategy to enhance dignity, equity and climate resilience across attend to diseases will now be used to do something else,” he noted.

Residents of areas that will be connected to the water pipeline have welcomed the development with enthusiasm, describing it as life-changing.

Lilian Wanjiku said, “We are very happy to get this water project close to us. Previously, we have been using water from wells and the canal, which is usually very dirty and full of impurities and this would make people sick. We thank Kirinyaga county government for bringing us this project.”

“Investment in water infrastructure and climate-resilient is not just about pipes and boreholes, it’s about dignity, health and opportunity,” she said.

“By expanding access to clean water and empowering our communities to lead environmental action, we are laying the foundation for a greener, fairer and more prosperous Kirinyaga,” she said.

Speaking during an inspection tour of the ongoing works, County Executive Committee (CEC) Member for Environment, Energy, Climate Change, Natural Resources, Water and Irrigation, James Ndegwa Ikubu, a resident of Mugaa village in Mutithi ward, said supply of piped water to his village was long overdue.

He said majority of the residents have been fetching the essential commodity from canals supplying irrigation water to rice farms which sometimes is contaminated.

“We have waited for this project for many years, but we are elated to finally have piped water, this will have great impact to us as we will not consume untreated water from canals again,” he said.