Residents of Kirinyaga have raised an alarm over rampant cases of vandalism on water projects across the county, saying such incidents have left many suffering due to a lack of enough water for drinking, domestic use and irrigation.
Over five cases have been reported ranging from the destruction of boreholes and stealing of water pipes.
On Tuesday, officers from the Kiamutugu police station in Gichugu constituency seized a pickup vehicle ferrying alleged stolen water pipes from the Kiamara and Gakiki water projects.
Acting on a tip-off from residents officers impounded the vehicle in the Mbiri area but the suspects managed to run away.
Police have since launched an investigation to establish the syndicate behind the rising vice.
The Kiamara water project runs from the Gichugu constituency to the Nyangati ward in Mwea where more than 2,500 beneficiaries depend on the water.
The project chairman Kennedy Macharia said 97 big water pipes have been stolen which has affected the supply of water to residents in Mwea.
He said the vandalism has left behind losses of at least Sh2 million.
Kirinyaga leaders led by county assembly majority leader Muriithi Kibinga have raised an alarm over continued vandalism of water projects.
Kibinga has termed destruction as economic sabotage claiming that there so individuals who are behind the scheme for their selfish interests geared to slow down county government development track records.
Njuki-ini MCA Timothy Kariuki and his Nyangati ward counterpart Kennedy Mwendia urged residents to be extra vigilant and partner with authority to secure water resources in the county.
The leaders are calling on the newly formed Water Police unit to move in with speed and conduct a thorough investigation so that the culprits are brought to book.