The Mountain Journal
Relief to Gatanga residents as the Ministry of Water allows 10,000 cubic metres of water meant for Nairobi through Northern Water Collector Tunnel (NWCT) to be consumed in Murang’a.
Interestingly, Gatanga hosts the Ndaka ini dam with the capacity to preserve 70 million cubic metres of water, as only 20 percent of the residents are connected with piped water.
Gatanga MP Edward Muriu and Gatanga Water and Sanitation Managing Director Mr John Kairu speaking separately said the directive by the government to access the commodity from the northern water collector tunnel was a relief to the locals.
They said once the commodity is released from the NWCT pipeline would end the historical water rationing in the upper areas.
“It will be a major relief for the locals to have the m
Commodity for more days in a month as they had water in their taps twice a month,” said the MP.
Two dams namely, Kimakia and Makiama he added will be done in the Aberdare forest to increase production of the water for distribution.
Kairu said the water from NCT will be connected to Githingiri and Thika Greens Golf Course and earn the company revenue.
Since the launch of the Ndaka ini dam, the residents neighboring the facility have been left to fetch water from boreholes and other contaminated sources exposing them to diseases
Athi Water Development Agency (AWDA) Acting CEO Joseph Kamau said in two months that 10,000 cubic metres will be released from the NWCT at Kigoro treatment works plant for use by the community.
Kamau said they have extensions that will draw water from the main line for distribution to households.
“The water will be supplied to Chomo, Mbugiti, Rwegetha, Mabae, Kigio, Karangaita, Maki Estate.
Others designed to benefit are Gatanga, Mabanda, Mithanduku ini, Githingiri, and Thika Greens Golf Course,” said the CEO adding that the agency was working with the county government to increase the area of coverage.
On the Sh 4.1 billion Ithanga Water Project, Kairu said the project designed to transform the lower Gatanga constituency will be completed in April.
The multi-billion shillings project started five years ago is implemented in three phases, designed to benefit more than 50,000 households.
Kairu said the contractor engaged by Athi Water was in the third phase of laying the distribution pipes covering 200 kilometers from the main supply line.
He said many investors owing to potential in Ithanga and Kakuzi wards, and closeness to Thika town were buying land to establish real estate and industries.
“The project is a game changer in Ithanga as the cost of land has appreciated by three folds as many people who had abandoned their lands due to the harsh climatic conditions are trooping back,” said Kairu.
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