Over 300 residents of Kabeti village in Kabare Ward, Gichugu Constituency, Kirinyaga County, are finally breathing a sigh of relief after years of interrupted access to clean water.
They have lived without a reliable water supply after disconnection during the construction of the Thiba Dam.
Despite repeated appeals, the water was never restored, forcing families to rely on unsafe and distant water sources affecting domestic use and irrigation farming.
Kenya Seed Company Chairperson Wangui Ngirici, who visited the area, took decisive action to restore the vital resource after engaging with residents, community leaders, and local elders who narrated how the absence of clean water had disrupted daily life.
The chairperson donated pipes and covered the full cost of connecting all affected homesteads, noting that access to clean water is not a privilege but a basic human right.
Ngirici reaffirmed her commitment to championing people-centred development and empowering communities through practical interventions that have a lasting impact.
She emphasised that sustainable development begins with meeting basic needs such as access to clean water, which underpins health, food security, and economic empowerment.
“I remain committed to servant leadership, practical solutions and empowering communities.”
Residents lauded Ngirici’s action, terming it an example of leadership grounded in listening, empathy, and tangible results.
They noted that while many leaders make promises, few act to address challenges facing communities.
As water flows again in Kabeti, the farmers who rely on irrigating their farms can now return to their farming activities with new hope of sustainable progress.
Thiba Dam was commissioned in August 2022 mainly for water supply to the Mwea Irrigation Scheme, which is the largest producer of rice in the country.
By Mutai Kipng’etich
