- The aim of the water token system is to eliminate long queues of residents getting water from boreholes and water bowsers.
- So far 10 water token stations have been set up but have not been officially opened to the public.
With only 50 cents, residents living in Nairobi’s Mukuru slums will have access to 20 litres of clean water. https://bit.ly/3g03eRP
With only 50 cents, residents living in Nairobi’s Mukuru slums will have access to 20 litres of clean water.
This is part of the national government’s plan to have clean water accessible across informal settlements through a water token system
The plan is being implemented by the Nairobi Metropolitan Services and Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company.
Deputy director for water and sanitation Stephen Githinji explained that with the water token system, residents will be required to buy water tokens depending on the amount of litres required.
Once one purchases the water tokens, from water stations that will be at strategic places across Mukuru, they will get a chip.
“The token is being sold at 50 cents per 20 litres. Once residents are given the chip, they insert it into the machines at the water stations
"The machine will automatically release the amount of water requested for,” Githinji added.
So far 10 water token stations have been set up but have not been officially opened to the public.
Image: WILFRED NYANGERESI
The aim of the water token system is to eliminate long queues of residents getting water from boreholes and water bowsers.
“With the water token system, we don’t need water vendors to man the station only one officer will be in charge,” Githinji added.
The NMS officer was speaking during a site visit in Mukuru Kwa Reuben that was spearheaded by government spokesman Cyrus Oguna.
Once launched, both NMS and Nairobi water will be able to monitor activities at the water stations from the offices.
Athi Water Agency together with NMS last year drilled 193 boreholes across slums in the city of which five are located in Mukuru.
Mukuru slums which host almost half a million people is divided into five areas; Kwa Njenga, Kwa Reuben, Fuata Nyayo, Pipeline and Viwandani.
To access free water, residents queue in lines for a few litres of the basic need.
To boost water access, NMS distributes one million litres on a daily basis across the city slums using water bowsers.
Image: MAUREEN KINYANJUI
Oguna noted that President Uhuru Kenyatta has the best interest in bringing development in the informal settlements.
“The water and road projects is evident and residents can testify that the impromptu visits Uhuru has made in the company of director general Mohammed Badi has bore fruits,” he said.
Infrastructural development in Nairobi's informal settlement has connected the areas to major parts of the city through roads.
NMS boss Badi last year declared Mukuru a Special Planning Area.
Oguna noted that there are different projects in Mukuru which are at different levels of completion.
The national government through the Kenya Urban Roads Authority at a cost of Sh5.8 billion is upgrading 408km of access roads across slums in Nairobi county.
Out of the 408km, Kura will cover 70 kilometres of roads in Mukuru.
“By the time the projects come to a completion mid next year, Mukuru will be completely transformed,” Githinji said.
Early this year, NMS announced Sh15 billion Mukuru Social Housing Project was approved by the Cabinet in September, last year.
The project will be undertaken jointly by the government and private investors.
Apart from Mukuru, Kibera and Mathare had also been marked as Special Planning Areas.
Once completed the projects will make people living in informal settlements feel like the rest of the urban dwellers.
(Edited by Bilha Makokha)