Thousands of Machakos residents have benefited from water tanks, thanks to the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF) under the patronage of the Women Representative’s office.
Speaking during the launch of the First Phase at the Machakos Golf club, the Machakos Women Representative, Joyce Kamene said the goal is to distribute 741 water tanks to different Community Based Organizations (CBO) in different regions within the county
“These water tanks will be used to provide storage of water for use in many applications like drinking water, irrigation, fire suppression, agricultural farming, both for plants and livestock, food preparation among other uses,” said Kamene
“I am committed to ease household water shortage and increase access to clean water through rain water harvesting,” she added
The Women Rep urged the government to continue funding and aiding NGAAF whose patronage is under the County Women Legislators’ offices.
Kamene pointed that the fund has helped many marginalized groups in the region adding that there is need to reach more people.
“There is a high number of needy people in the villages waiting to benefit from the limited resources. Therefore, there is need to increase the NGAAF funding to ensure more people are empowered,” she said
The Kathiani Member of Parliament, Robert Mbui lauded the Women Rep’s efforts in helping alleviate water scarcity in the region
Other leaders who graced the event comprised Masinga Member of Parliament, Joshua Mwalyo, several Members of the Machakos County assembly among other county and national government officials.
Some of the beneficiaries who talked to KNA on the sidelines of the event said the water tank distribution could not have come at a better time than the onset of the October-December short rains as it will enable the residents harvest enough rainwater
The NGAAF tanks were distributed under the patronage of the Women Representative office in conjunction with Mumo wa Aka Masaku (The Grace of women group in Machakos)
The distributed tanks volume ranged between 10, 000, 5000 and 2500 cubic meters.
By Rachael Kilonzo
