Taita Taveta county leaders now want the national government to say when the multibillion-shilling Mzima II water project will be implemented.
Led by Taveta MP Bwire Okano, the leaders said the project is overdue even as residents in the region suffer from hunger and lack of clean water.
The Sh40 billion project was proposed in 2017, but the government has remained non-committal on when it will be started.
Okano said county leaders had been left in the dark on how water from the project will be shared among the coastal counties.
“The initial agreement was that priority will be given to Taita Taveta; the surplus be supplied to other countries. We are however not aware of the progress,” the legislator said, pointing out that there is a proposal to use the old Kenya Pipeline line to supply water to Mombasa county from Mzima.
“It has come to our attention that there are plans to use the old pipeline initially used to transport petroleum. Either way, water has to be supplied to our county first,” Okano said on Monday.
Wundanyi MP Danson Mwashako asked the government to fast-track implementation of the project, noting that many residents could hardly access clean water.
Mwashako said the project will enable residents to own small kitchen gardens thus boosting food production in the country.
“The region has great agricultural potential that can only be exploited if there is water. Such projects will play a part in fighting hunger,” Mwashako said.
The mega water project is designed to draw water from the Mzima springs at the Tsavo River and to supply to the arid parts of Taita Taveta county. The project is also supposed to supply water to other coastal counties of Kwale, Kilifi and Mombasa.
The Mzima II project is set to inject at least 65,000 cubic meters of water per day and supplement the existing Mzima I pipeline that was constructed a long time ago.
The county is waiting with bated breath for the implementation of the project that would put to rest water scarcity in the region.
While overseeing relief food distribution in Voi on Saturday, Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvuria said plans are underway to implement the water project.
"We will follow up on the Mzima II water project to ensure it is implemented. The project will supply enough water to the region," the CS added.
Despite the delay, Mvurya said the project is still part of the government's plan in its quest to provide clean water to the coastal region.