Tharaka Nithi County Launches New Technology Of Supplying Water To Residents
Leaders listening as they are taken through the water situation in Tharaka Nithi County at the governor's boardroom at Kathwana township yesterday
Cabinet Secretary For Water, Sanitation And Irrigation Zachariah Njeru Officially Commissioned The Modern Technology Initiative That Is Expected To End Water Shortage In County’s Semi-Arid Areas
By Wilfred Muchire
Worth Noting:
- The launch of the digital water service project dubbed, Ewater Services in Nkondi ward in Tharaka constituency is a partnership between Tharaka-Nithi County Government and a private investor, Maji Popote based in Kenya and Ewater Services Company from the United Kingdom.
- The Ewater Services Company is involved in managing boreholes by developing infrastructure which includes the installation of smart water kiosks while Maji Popote runs the project.
- While lauding the initiative, the CS noted that the Kenya Kwanza administration is committed to improving water access in the entire country to better the lives of Kenyans.
Tharaka Nithi County yesterday became the first devolved unit to use a modern technology to supply water to its residents.
The new technology will see locals purchase water at designated water points at a very minimal cost.
The initiative, area governor Muthomi Njuki noted is his administration’s bid to provide clean domestic water to the residents of the partly semi-arid area.
Cabinet Secretary in charge of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation Zachariah Njeru officiated the programme at Nkondi township yesterday during a ceremony that was witnessed by top ministry leadership and hundreds of local residents.
According to statistics, only 48 per cent of an estimated population of 400,000 county residents has access to clean domestic water at their homes while about 41 per cent have water for irrigation.
The launch of the digital water service project dubbed, Ewater Services in Nkondi ward in Tharaka constituency is a partnership between Tharaka-Nithi County Government and a private investor, Maji Popote based in Kenya and Ewater Services Company from the United Kingdom.
The Ewater Services Company is involved in managing boreholes by developing infrastructure which includes the installation of smart water kiosks while Maji Popote runs the project.
While lauding the initiative, the CS noted that the Kenya Kwanza administration is committed to improving water access in the entire country to better the lives of Kenyans.
The CS and his team was in the County to also inspect other water projects being undertaken by the national government under the supervision of Tana Water Works Development Agency which is chaired by Wanyaga Gathaka with Eng. Philip Gichuki being the Chief Executive Officer.
Yesterday, the team from the head office, that of Tana Water Works Development Agency and from Tharaka Nithi County government undertook an inspection tour of the Agency’s projects in the area where they visited the area governor’s office in Kathwana where the team was briefed on Water Situation in the area.
The field tour began with inspection of Kerege treatment works which is under Chuka Water Supply Project. Once complete, the treatment works will avail 15 million litres of water a day to 30,000 households in Kianjagi, Kairuni and Iruma regions.
They also visited Kibunga Kakimiki Water Project in Tharaka Constituency. Upon completion, this project will cater for more than 30,000 people across Turima, Karocho, Ntugi, Marimanti, Maragwa, Mwanyani, Matankiri, and Nkondi Locations, significantly enhancing water accessibility.
Among those who accompanied the CS included Water and Irrigation PS Julius Korir, Water Secretary Eng. Sao Alima, Governor Muthomi Njuki , DG Muisraeli Nderebia and Tharaka Nithi County National government officials.
Others were area Senator Mwenda Gataya, Women Representative Susan Ngugi and Tharaka Member of Parliament Gitonga Murugara who all praised the ministry for its intervention in addressing water matters in the county.
The CS noted that the sewage system projects for Chuka and Chogoria towns the county are ongoing and will soon be complete, thereby resolving the problems of waste disposal in the area.
He added that the government has allocated funds for the expansion of Kibung’a Kakimiki Domestic Water Project in Tharaka constituency to reach more people.
“President William Ruto’s government is committed to solving the water problem and there are several ongoing projects in this county and the Head of State will soon visit to launch some,” said Njeru.
On his part, the governor disclosed that over 1,250 residents are currently benefiting from the water which is treated and safe for direct consumption with more 100,000 litres of water having been drawn.
Njuki said the Maji Popote will run the project which is in the piloting stage for 10 years.
Those who are set to benefit from this project are residents from Nkondi, Njukini and Giekuri in Nkondi ward and Murigi, Barrier and Kaareni in Igamba-Ng’ombe ward within Tharaka Constituency.
“Our people here walk for long distances which take them at least a whole hour to look for water and that is why we have come up with this project to enable you to access safe water conveniently, ” said Njuki.
He added that the target was to ensure that the Smart Water Kiosks are installed closer to homesteads within a range of 150 metres to 200 metres.
He said similar projects will be done in Kathanje, Karambani, Ura Gate and Kathandeni areas all Tharaka and Chuka/Igambang’ombe constituencies.
The governor regrettably noted that boreholes that had been drilled by his administration stalled while others were vandalised by a section of residents due to lack of ownership.
Leaders present averred that the provision of water will reduce the challenge of among other things; waterborne diseases which are common in the area and wastage of manhours in search the commodity.
James Kay, the Chief Operations Officer for Ewater Global said beneficiaries are registered and issued with a smart prepaid token which is used to purchase water at KSh5 for every 20 litres, adding that the little proceeds collected will be used to run the operation and maintenance of the project for sustainability.
“This is our project in Kenya but we have similar water projects in Gambia, Ghana and Tanzania and the technology has worked very well,” he revealed.
While lauding the project, Tharaka Nithi Senator Mwenda Gataya, Tharaka Nithi Women Representative Susan Ngugi and Tharaka Member of Parliament Gitonga Murugara said such interventions are welcome to end the water problem in the semi-arid area.
The elected leaders also thanked President William Ruto for the ongoing water projects and for the allocation of more money to expand Kibung’a Kakimiki Water Project in Tharaka constituency to reach more people.
“We recently visited Dr Ruto and we are happy to see CS Njeru visit our county ahead of the former’s visit in March this year to commission complete projects and launch new ones,” said the area MP.
The water Agency overseeing the projects through its chairman thanked the government for funding such projects to alleviate water shortage in the region.
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