4,000 Mathioya households to benefit from Sh40m water project

@Alicewangechi

Over 4,000 residents of Mathioya in Murang’a county are set to benefit from a Sh40 million water project being implemented by Athi Water Works Development Agency.

The project dubbed Mathioya Water Supply project, will have its intake in the Aberdare ranges with a 90km long pipeline channeling water to homesteads.

Once complete, the project will boost the subcounty’s water coverage from the current 60 per cent to about 70 per cent.

MP Edwin Mugo said the project will save residents from the time consuming chore of fetching water from far-off rivers and raise their quality of lives.

Mugo who spoke in Thuita during the launch of the project, said the constituency has been struggling with water scarcity despite having major rivers.

He said the project will ensure residents of Kiru and Kamacharia wards are fully covered, and some parts of Gitugi ward.

“This project will provide domestic water and make it easy for residents to venture more in dairy farming as they will no longer have to fetch water from rivers for their cows,” he said.

The MP said the project is in line with the promises he made during his campaign that included boosting water, road and power connectivity.

Mugo added that he has drafted more proposals seeking funds for two more projects, Kandabibi and Gakoe, that will further raise water coverage in the constituency.

“We have started with domestic water but once we are done, we will embark on ensuring our farmers receive irrigation water so that they can engage in farming all year round,” he added.

Elizabeth Githinji, a resident, said they trek for kilometres in the hilly terrain to access water or borrow the commodity from wells operated by a few residents.

She said they have been grappling with water borne diseases affecting their standards of living.

Githinji said the acute water shortage has been used for decades by politicians to get their votes and afterwards fail to fulfil the promise.

Esther Mbote said women have been suffering from back and joint issues due to carrying jerricans of water.

“Even our children have been carrying water to school to clean their classrooms. We are happy that this project will make life easier for everybody and boost hygiene in our homes,” Mbote said.