Why Lack Of Guided Water Use And Storage Is To Blame For Its Shortage – Wanyaga Gathaka
Tana Water Works Development Agency Chairman Wanyaga Gathaka (right) with Nyeri Town MP Duncan Maina Mathenge pose for a photo after a meeting yesterday. Photo/PAUL MWANGI WANJIRU
By Rodgers Wagura
The main cause of water shortage in Mt. Kenya region is lack of proper use and storage.
Most of the commodity is let down streams without thinking of reserving it while those doing irrigation use methods that unnecessarily use alot of it.
Now, the organization bestowed with the mandate of managing the all essential commodity, Tana Water Works Development Agency want the regional residents to consider other viable ways of handling the natural resource.
The agency chairman Wanyaga Gathaka says people must be sensitive to new ways of conserving the water through dams, water pans and tanks.
Further, the farmers must adopt new farming methods that uses little water.
Addressing journalists in his office yesterday, he noted that most farmers use the sprinkler irrigation method that wastes a lot of water compared to Drip irrigation system which uses very little water.
At the same time, Gathaka said the agency in conjunction with the Ministry of Water are planning to drill and equip several boreholes in various parts of the region to alleviate consumption and farming water which is expected to address the food insecurity in the region.
“Water is scarce as many rivers which were used for irrigation are running dry due to climate change and lack of raining. In this case, boreholes are the only option to providing water for consumption and farming” he pointed out.
He disclosed that already, the agency has sunk boreholes in different parts of the region where residents have been experiencing severe water shortage.
“At the famous Kinyaiti hatuna maji since 1984 in Kieni constituency, the chairman said they have a borehore and piping which will cover about two will be done to be used by hundreds of local farmers who he noted were able to earn about Sh200,000 after every three months after farming onions on less than half an acre of land.
He called on farmers to consider water harvesting during this rainy season saying, the reserved water will come in handy during the dry season.
Earlier, he had a consultative meeting with the Nyeri Town MP Duncan Maina Mathenge where they discussed various initiatives of addressing consumption and farming water in his constituency.
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