Over 10,000 families in Eburru ward in Gilgil are calling for urgent interventions after their only source of water was disconnected two weeks ago.
As a result, the residents have been forced to buy water from vendors with various health centres and schools facing closure.
Kengen which is also drilling geothermal in the area has been affected by the crisis forcing it to scale down its operations in the area.
At the centre of the dispute is a parcel of land near Lake Naivasha which was acquired by the investor who in turn disconnected the water supply that for years was supplied by Kengen to the residents.
One of the youth leaders Joseph Muchedu said the problem started when the investor bought the land and blocked access to the water pumps.
While appealing to the investor, he said drilling in the geothermal fields had come to a halt leading to job losses among area youths.
“For years we have relied on water from the lake and the closure of the access road to the water pumps has adversely affected the whole community of Eburru,” he said.
According to area MCA Michael Gathanwa, several hospitals, boarding schools and businesses faced closure due to an acute water shortage caused by the crisis.
Speaking at the shores of Lake Naivasha where the pumps are located, the MCA said the water had been serving residents for over 40 years before the investor came in.
“Water supply to the whole of Eburru area has been disconnected for the last two weeks and the county shall do everything possible to make sure this is rectified,” he said.
The chairperson of the water project Lydia Nyota told of their suffering noting that the only hospital in the area faced closure due to lack of water.
“We are appealing to the investor to listen to our cries and allow Kengen to access the water pumps as we are undergoing a lot of suffering,” she said.
Similar sentiments were echoed by an elder Boniface Thuo who said the water had been serving them since 1987 through Kengen before the land ownership changed hands.
“Over 50,000 families in this area have been affected by the water shortage and we are ready to raise funds and buy off the land,” he said.
-Edited by SKanyara
