Residents of Mathioya Sub County in Murang’a will get water for domestic and irrigation purposes once two projects which are under construction are completed.
The government has ejected Sh60 million to revive a community irrigation project that stalled 15 years ago.
Kandabibi/Gikindu project which was started by local residents and stalled due to lack of resources is earmarked for completion within a period of one year after the national government allocated funds to the stalled project.
The irrigation project which initially was set to support about 100 households will be expanded to serve more than 1, 000 households and boost irrigation farming in the sub county.
Mathioya MP Peter Kimari has lauded the government for reviving the project saying the water would enable farmers to embark on commercial farming.
The project that will be undertaken by the National Irrigation Authority will draw water from River Mathioya and a 30-kilometre pipeline will be laid connecting to homesteads.
Kimari said the project would benefit all local residents irrespective whether they were members of the initial community group.
“I thank the Ministry of Water for listening to our cries to revive the project. Once completed the water will assist local farmers to invest in commercial agriculture,” said Kimari on Friday during commissioning of the project.
The government is also doing another water project aimed to benefit more than 60, 000 households drawn from Mathioya and part of Kiharu Sub counties.
The Gatango water project funded at a tune of Sh220 million is almost complete and will only supply water for domestic use.
Sedimentation tank constructed at the edge of Aberdare forest is expected to treat 4, 000 litres of water on a daily basis where 2,000 litres will be channeled to Gaturi ward in Kiharu while the rest goes to residents of Mathioya constituency.
A Director with Athi Water Works Development Agency Peter Kihungi has said many of the water projects the government had promised people of Murang’a were all being implemented.
Kihungi who graced the commissioning event observed that by next year, majority of the projects would be completed and a big number of local residents would get water for domestic use as some parts which received minimal rains get water for irrigation.
Speaking at the same occasion, Murang’a Senator Irungu Kang’ata appreciated the government for implementing numerous water projects across the county.
Kang’ata said the Murang’a leaders proposed projects worth Sh3 billion when they met a delegation of government officials led by Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i and that their implementation has set off.
“We want the people of Murang’a to have access to both drinking and irrigation water. We cannot continue giving water to Nairobi County while our people suffer from lack of it,” the Senator said.
By Bernard Munyao
