Community projects impacting lives of the locals in Murang’a

The Mountain Journal

Celebrations rocked Gathungururu village in Murang’a after the locals witnessed the drilling of a borehole to serve them ending decades of suffering and frustrations.

 In a project fast-tracked by the county government  initiated through  community programme initiative, the residents in Gathungururu and Athara villages estimated 1,000 celebrated after the drilling exercise was commissioned.

 The project was commissioned by Kimorori/Wempa MCA Elizabeth Mwangi ending years of the locals searching for water from the abandoned boreholes and swamps.

John Ndungu and Jenniffer Mueni said the sinking of the borehole is a dream come true after the locals for years have been subjected to suffering.

Mueni said women have suffered as they are forced to trek long distances in search of water for domestic use and for their livestock.

 She said the locals have been fetching water from the swamps where wild and domestic animals also converge for the commodity.

“ Now the residents appreciate the facility and are ready to safeguard it,” said Mueni.

 Ndung’u recounts how a borehole was sunk a few metres from the current one and the water produced turned salty leading to the closure.

“ The project was financed by an NGO but the technicians ignored the locals advice and proceeded to more than 150 metres instead of halting the exercise at 120 metres,” said Ndung’u.

 The MCA said the project of the county government will sink 11 boreholes this financial year, and more to be proposed in the financial year 2023/2024.

“But the locals are expected to protect the boreholes that will be initiated by the county government as they will be connected with solar energy, “ she said.

The scenario in Ithanga sub-county where 23 solar panels disappeared, she said,  served as an example to beef up security.

 Thirteen solar panels were traced and recovered in a residence of an administrator in Matungulu area in Machakos county.

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