•65 per cent of residents translating to 1.7 million people have access to clean and sufficient water
•The executive said that in the next one year, they are targeting 100 per cent of water provision to residents.
Image: JOH KAMAU
Some 800,000 residents of Kiambu are yet to be connected to clean water, county Water and Environment executive David Kuria has said.
The residents hail from semi-arid parts of the county including Ngoliba, Komo, Munyu in Thika East and areas of Juja, Kamangu, Ndeiya, Kikuyu and Karuri where water scarcity is the norm.
About 65 per cent of residents, translating to 1.7 million people, have access to clean and sufficient water.
This follows water provision projects initiated by the county government through their eight water service providers.
Kuria, who spoke during the World Water Day celebrations at Ruiru stadium, said the number has risen from 35 per cent in the last three years due to various water projects they have initiated.
“We are,however, working round the clock to ensure that we bridge the gap to ensure all Kiambu residents have access and constant flow of clean and sufficient water in their homes,” Kuria said.
He cited the sinking of boreholes in various parts of the county to supplement the capacity by area water service providers.
The water executive said that recently Kiambu sunk five boreholes in Nyacaba, Gachororo, Theta, Murera and Juja Farm areas in Juja subcounty.
“Juja, despite being a semi-arid area, has experienced a significant population increase," he said.
"This has overstretched Ruiru Juja Water and Sewerage Company hence the need to drill the boreholes to address water shortage.”
The executive said that in the next one year, they are targeting 100 per cent of water provision to residents.
Kuria said that they are working together with Athi Water Services Board to distribute water from major dams being constructed in the region including Kariminu II, Ruiru II and Kinare dams to Kiambu residents.
“These dams will help us address the water deficit we currently have and ensure that all everyone is connected to clean water,” Kuria said.
Kariminu II dam, in Gatundu North subcounty, is being constructed at a cost of Sh24 billion by the state. It will start supplying water by June this year.
Principal Secretary Joseph Njoroge, during his recent tour of the dam, said that water impoundment has began.
He said that out of the 70 million litres, which will be produced by the dam per day, some 23 million litres will be pumped to Nairobi while the rest will go to Ruiru, Juja, Thika and Gatundu.
The PS said that the Kariminu dam, which is being implemented by Athi Water Works Development Agency, is set to benefit approximately one million Kenyans in Nairobi and Kiambu.
“The government has been keen in addressing the critical issue of water crisis in Nairobi as well as other regions across the country," Njoroge said.
"This project will inject additional water in the system and help address the deficit in our capital city and several parts of Kiambu.”
(Edited by Francis Wadegu)