The government has mobilized two water bowsers to Magadi Ward to cushion residents and schoolchildren from the effects of a prolonged dry spell that has worsened the area’s perennial water shortage.
The two bowsers, with a combined capacity of 80,000 litres, have been deployed by the Tanathi Water Works Development Agency (TANATHI) to supply clean water to public schools and households as the government pursues long-term solutions to the water crisis.
The trucking comes a week after President William Ruto directed the Ministry of Water to ensure adequate water supply to Magadi residents during his development tour of the area.
Speaking during the deployment, TANATHI Chief Executive Officer, Sammy Naporos, said 25 schools with a combined population of about 5,400 pupils, as well as 12,000 community members, would benefit from the intervention.
Naporos said the water bowsers would supply the affected areas for six months, as the government implements medium- and long-term measures to address the shortage.
In the medium term, he said, TANATHI would rehabilitate the Oldonyo Onyokie, Olkeri, and Naserian water lines to increase access to water for residents.
TANATHI currently sources water from Ngurumani Springs and Oloibortoto through a 34-kilometer pipeline.
Naporos said the long-term solution would be the construction of the proposed Ewaso Ng’iro Multipurpose Dam, which is expected to serve Kajiado West, Narok South, and Narok East constituencies.
“The design has been done, and the costs have been estimated. Together with the area MP and the Ministry of Water, we will ensure that it is constructed to sort out this challenge once and for all,” said Naporos.
Kajiado West MP George Sunkuyia welcomed the intervention, saying the water shortage had affected both households and livestock in an area, where many residents depend on livestock keeping for their livelihoods.
Oldonyo Onyokie Girls Secondary School Principal Rose Wangila said the water shortage had made it costly for the institution to access adequate supplies, forcing the school to ration water among students.
A Magadi resident, Francis Lelelit, also welcomed the initiative, saying residents had endured perennial water shortages for years, affecting their daily activities.
The deployment comes as the government seeks to provide immediate relief while working on sustainable measures to address water scarcity in the drought-prone area.
The areas severely hit include Naserian, Olkeri, Murandawua, Olkiramatian, and Oldonyo Onyokie villages.
By Diana Meneto
