Tana Water Works Development Agency Chairman Wanyaga Gathaka (3rd left) with Iruri Irrigation Water project officials and his agency staff after a meeting at Kwa-Mùkaburù area at Ndundu-ini sublocation of Mathira constituency.
By Charles Kinyua
Worth Noting:
- The agency’s Technical Manager, Engineer Ngugi assured the residents that their issues will be resolved after an appraisal and that the design of the project will determine their needs, an issue that will be prioritised.
- Ngugi urged the management committee to enhance sustainability and accountability for the project’s perpetuity even as he advised them to move away from uniform monthly payments of KSh200 per month to more reasonable pay- as- you- use module.
Tana Water Works Development Agency (TWWDA) will provide technical assistance to community water projects to enable them bring their systems to acceptable standards.
Addressing officials of Iruri Irrigation Water project in Mathira constituency, the agency’s chairman Wanyaga Gathaka said that the government is determined to prioritise water provision in the country as its most basic in all spheres in society.
The project serves at least 500 families including the rural home of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua in Wamunyoro village, Sagana sub- location. According to the project’s chairman, Bernard Maina Muchemi, the project that was initiated over 20 years ago has been facing several challenges including capacity, lack of resources, regular burst pipes, siltation and lack of enough storage tanks.
At least another 100 families have not been connected due to lack of funds while those connected have had to persevere regular shortages due to capacity and inadequacy of funds.
The agency’s Technical Manager, Engineer Ngugi assured the residents that their issues will be resolved after an appraisal and that the design of the project will determine their needs, an issue that will be prioritised.
Ngugi urged the management committee to enhance sustainability and accountability for the project’s perpetuity even as he advised them to move away from uniform monthly payments of KSh200 per month to more reasonable pay- as- you- use module.
Area chief Ephraim Njarara who provided the meeting venue at Ndunduini Assistant Chief’s office advised the committee to emulate their parents who bequeathed them the project and focus on giving coming generations a sustainable project.
He observed that the area is highly agriculturally productive but erractic water provision remained a serious challenge that required a lasting resolution.
Gathaka ordered the agency’s technical person in the area Mr Miruru to map out both a short and a long term strategy to ensure that residents get water regularly for their livelihoods to continue uninterrupted.
The project chairman noted that the Deputy President had assured him that he did not want any preferential treatment as a member that would hurt other members even as they pursued ways of resolving the challenges and against anybody using his name.
Wanyaga decried the scarcity of water in both Kieni and Mathira constituencies though inspite of their proximity to the two largest water towers; Mt Kenya and Aberdares, an issue that should be addressed comprehensively.
Similar projects in various parts of the country are expected to be upgraded by the Kenya Kwanza administration so as to enable as many as possible Kenyans get access to domestic and Irrigation water and thus address the food security in the country.
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- Mt Kenya Times ePAPER September 21, 2026
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