The government has constructed a Sh577 million water and sewerage plant in Limuru, Kiambu county to improve sanitation.
The Limuru Water Supply and Sewerage project is expected to catalyse commercial activities and drive economic growth in the area.
The multi million shilling project has been constructed in partnership with African Development Bank.
It is expected to serve Limuru Town, Karanjee, Misri, Kwa Mbira and Bibirioni villages.
The project begun with the construction of a 32-kilometre sewer, sanitation blocks and oxidation ditches.
Construction of settling tanks, submersible pump chamber, drilling and equipping of boreholes then followed.
Commercial manager for Limuru Water company, Nicholas Wainaina, said besides improving sanitation, the project has also created job opportunities for skilled and unskilled workers.
“This project has improved the quality of lives for our people. While we have not connected all residents to the sewer, we have continued to engage and sensitise them on the benefits of living in an environmentally friendly area,” he said.
For decades, residents of Limuru, have been grappling with improper waste disposal, a situation that has exposed them to water-borne diseases.
They have decried the Sh8,000 lorries charge them for waste disposal.
“I came here in 1970’s before the formation of this slum. We have been struggling with latrines and runaway water for years," Mungai Njoroge, a resident said.
"Life has been hard for most of us, especially those of us with children. We monitor them all the time to protect them from unsafe wastes."
Lilian Kihara who runs Limuru Children’s centre, urged the government to expand the project to other parts of Limuru.
“We have another centre that takes care of the dumped infants but the project is not implemented there. We pray for the expansion of the project to support and improve the lives of the infants," she said.