Garissa Governor Nathif Jama commissioning the
Modogashe water project./STEPHEN ASTARIKO
Garissa Governor Nathif Jama speaking in Modogashe
town during Madaraka Day celebrations on June 1, 2025./STEPHEN ASTARIKO
Lagdera MP Abdikadir Hussein speaking at the event./STEPHEN ASTARIKOFor 75-year-old Halima Mohamed, the arrival of piped water in Modogashe, Garissa County, feels like a dream come true.
“I only saw piped water when I visited my children in Garissa Town,” Halima said. But on Sunday, she joined hundreds of other residents to witness the commissioning of the Modogashe water supply project.
“I feel like I’m daydreaming,” she said, beaming with joy. “It will take me some time to truly believe we now have piped water.”
Modogashe, one of Garissa’s oldest towns, has struggled for over a century without a reliable source of clean water. Residents have relied on shallow wells and water trucking by the county government.
The new project was launched on Sunday in a ceremony led by Governor Nathif Jama, alongside local leaders and residents.
Siyat Noor, a 66-year-old retired civil servant and community leader in Modogashe, described the event as a new dawn after years of struggle for a basic human right.
“Today, I cannot hide my joy seeing water flow from taps. It’s a historic moment for us, and it coincides with the 62nd Madaraka Day celebrations,” he said.
He recalled how residents endured years of unfulfilled promises from elected leaders who pledged to address the water crisis during campaign seasons.
Fatuma Noor shared in the excitement, noting how the Madaraka Day celebrations carried extra meaning this year thanks to the water project.
“Today, we celebrate with other Kenyans because we finally have clean water at home,” she said. “We’ve suffered so much, relying on shallow wells and water trucking.”
She added, “Our mothers and daughters, some as young as three, would wake up early to fetch water. Many times, they’d come back empty-handed. It’s a painful story.”
Youth leader Sahara Ahmed Bare said the crisis forced some families to migrate to neighbouring areas in search of clean water.
Speaking at the launch, Governor Nathif Jama highlighted the project’s significance, marking an end to reliance on shallow wells along the Togweyne seasonal riverbed.
“These shallow wells were unsustainable, especially during droughts,” he said. “I am filled with joy and pride to see this project commissioned. It’s part of my commitment to improving access to clean and safe water.”
He explained that the project began two years ago with the drilling of four boreholes 45 kilometres away in the Qone plains of the Lorian Swamp. Storage tanks of 450,000 liters and another 250,000 liters at Waree station, 29 kilometers from the boreholes, will ensure reliable supply.
The project is expected to deliver 60,000 litres of water per hour, benefiting more than 30,000 residents and local amenities.
Governor Jama urged residents to protect and sustain the project, emphasising the importance of paying for the services on time.
“This is your project. Support it, safeguard it, and ensure it lasts,” he urged.
The governor also announced that at least 150 households that cannot afford to extend piped water to their homes will be connected for free. He further pledged to explore extending the project to Sololo in neighbouring Isiolo County, where residents face similar challenges.
Area MP Abdikadir Hussein praised the county government for ending decades of hardship and called for the project’s extension to promote harmony with neighbouring communities.
“For decades, our community has faced persistent challenges from lack of reliable clean water,” he said. “This project is about dignity, equity, and justice for a community that has waited far too long.
