By The Mountain
Journal Senior Reporter in Solio ceo@themountainjournal.co.ke
A rural water scheme located
in the remote part of Laikipia has attracted officials of other schemes eyed to
be a food basket.
Solio Settlement Water
Project founded four months ago through the partnership of Laikipia County
Government, Nanyuki Water and Sewerage Company (Nawasco) and Water Sector Trust
Fund has since been visited by officials from several rural-based schemes for
benchmarking.
The benchmarking follows after the four months water project has moved a mile further with members turning to drip irrigation as the best mode in the utilisation of water.
This is one of the projects that President Uhuru Kenyatta is expected to be
commission during his tour of Mt Kenya region.
Scheme Manager Duncan
Maina Gikandisaid they have managed to install drip irrigation equipment
to 35 members, awaiting to roll out of the second phase.
“ This a joint
programme between various partners all
geared towards transforming the living standard of the people in Solio who were
settled by the government after they were evicted from forests,” said Gikandi.
Chairman of Gitaru
Community Water Company Mr Muhia wa
Ngige toured the nine kilometer radius project on a fact-finding mission, and
learned the water distribution network in the villages.
The squatters were relocated to the villages
from Othaya, Muoroto, Chehe and Hombe areas in Nyeri county after they were
ejected from state controlled forests of Mt Kenya and Aberdare after the end of
Shamba system.
Muhia said Gitaru
project in Kiambu manages boreholes and was founded in 1969, but presently
struggling with high electric bills to facilitate pumping of the resources to
the members.
“We have learned on the
management skills employed in Solio scheme to distribute water in the vast area.
More importantly, our interest was on the partnership between the players,” said
Muhia.
The 31`kilomters
pipeline from the slopes of Aberdares cuts through Kinyaite village in Nyeri that
is one of the areas without access to piped water since independence.
Solio Project Chairman
Mr Nicholas Thagana said cooperation between Laikipia County Government with
other Ministry of Water led to the success of the programme.
“The Sh143 million project
implemented by Nawasco saw the Trust fund donating Sh123 million and the rest
from the county government,” said
Thagana.
Laikipia County Government
through Governor Ndiritu Muriithi gave Sh20 million, that helped to reach the
1,700 members. We target in the shortest time possible the project will quest
thirst of 3,000 people in the villages with a population of over 20,000 ,” said
Thagana.
The boreholes that were
established by the Retired President Mwai Kibaki administration, the residents
said are salty, thus they embarked on a journey to get piped water from the
Aberdares.
A resident Ms Millicent Nyambura and James Kiama who settled in the locality from Nyana hills and Home villages in Mathira recount the challenges
they went as they used salty water from the bore holes.
“It is a relief to the
families in Solio settlement, that at last, we are enjoying piped water and
decades of suffering in the wilderness” said Nyambura.
She added that bore
hole water affected hundreds of locals through a high concentration of fluorine
that has left many teeth to discoloration.
Laikipia County Water
Executive Njenga Kahiro said the project is a landmark that will transform the
locality for the interest of the people.
“This one of the
milestone project that will transform the wellbeing of the people through
Nawasco,” said Mr Kahiro.
Gitaru Water Company
is one of the small water service providers has embarked to install solar
panels to help in the reduction of expenditure.
The Mountain Journal news
lines are
Mobile Phone (SMS)0719-889-925
