Water scarcity ends as 400,000 Kirinyaga residents get regular supply

About 400,000 Kirinyaga residents now receive clean water regularly, ending rationing.

They get continuous water supply for 24 hours unlike previously when they enjoyed water for 18 hours per day.

This followed the completion of the Kerugoya-Kutus bulk water project undertaken by the national and county governments.

 The mega water tank that draws water from Thiba and Kiringa rivers saw water production increase from 10,000 to 30,000 cubic meters per day, addressing perennial water shortages in most parts of the county.

The project is managed by Kirinyaga Water and Sanitation Company, which is owned by the county government.

Governor Anne Waiguru termed the project as a great milestone towards provision of universal access to clean and affordable water.

Some of the towns enjoying the supply are Mutithi, Kagumo, Makutano, Kagio, Kerugoya, Sagana, Kandongu and Kangai.

Waiguru pledged her government’s commitment to lobby for extension of a parallel line from the intake to serve upper Gichugu residents from Karumandi, Baragwi, Kabare and Njukiini wards.

Water executive James Kinyua said on Tuesday that water supply can now be extended to underserved areas following increased storage of an extra 20,000 cubic meters of water per day.

“The project’s treatment plant at Muratiri has also enabled the reduction of water turbidity to zero and we can assure our residents that the quality of water has greatly improved and can be consumed directly from the tap,” he said.

 “We conduct monthly testing to ensure the quality is maintained.”

 Clean water, he said, will significantly reduce the prevalence of water-borne diseases.

 The project has also greatly reduced water loss during distribution, reducing non-revenue water which translated to increases county revenue.

 A beneficiary of the project, Idd Abdul, from Kerugoya town, said with the project water shortage earlier witnessed is now a thing of the past.

 “We are grateful that the situation has changed and we can now access clean water every day,” he said.

 James Wahome, another beneficiary from Muratiri, said the regular flow of clean domestic water has improved their hygiene.

 "As a user of the new supply line, I am thankful that we now have a solution to water rationing problems that we faced constantly whereby we only had water once or twice a week,” Simon Wanjohi of Sagana town said.

 The over Sh1 billion project commissioned last year was funded by the African Development Bank and has a capacity of 30,000 cubic meters of water in a day.