Water

The County Government of Makueni on Tuesday commissioned the Kangi Water Project in Katoloni Village, improving access to clean and safe water for residents of Wote Nziu Ward.

The project, implemented by the Sisters of Hope Self-Help Group with support from the Water Justice Fund through Neighbors Initiative Alliance and in partnership with the county government, rehabilitated the Kangi sand dam along River Ndue Nguu. It also included construction of a water sump, installation of a solar-powered pumping system, pipeline extension, and establishment of a communal water point with a storage tank. A tree nursery was also set up as part of the initiative.

County Executive Committee Member for Finance, Planning, Budget and Revenue, Damaris Kavoi, represented Governor H.E. Mutula Kilonzo Jr. at the commissioning. She said the project demonstrates the county’s commitment to sustainable, community-led development and efficient use of public resources, and reaffirmed continued support for partnerships that improve livelihoods and climate resilience.

Chief Officer for Water and Sanitation David Makau called on residents to protect the infrastructure to ensure long-term service delivery, warning that vandalism of public water projects would attract legal action.

Wote Nziu Ward MCA Felix Mateso and other county officials attended the event, which included a tree-planting exercise to promote environmental conservation.

Residents welcomed the project, saying it will reduce the burden of fetching water and improve daily life in Katoloni Village.

Over 6,000 residents of Nzaui/Kilili/Kalamba Ward are set to benefit from clean, safe and reliable water following the launch of the Kshs 16 million Kikuu–Kawala Water Project, funded through the Financing Locally-Led Climate Action (FLLoCA) Program.

Construction of the project will commence immediately, following site handover to a contractor by Makueni’s Climate Change Unit officers on Thursday, January 8, 2026. Once completed, the project will provide year-round water supply to residents of Upper and Lower Mutulani, Mutanda, Iuluka, Kawala, Kyaani, Mikooni, Kithukini, Itulu, Ngomano, Kyanguu, Ilingoni, Kwa Mutumia and Kanzili clusters.

Key institutions set to benefit include Kawala Primary and Secondary Schools, Kawala CTTI and Kawala Dispensary. The project entails the construction of a 100,000-litre sump along Kikuu River, a solar-powered pumping system, water distribution lines and storage tanks to ensure sustainable and reliable water access.

To enhance community resilience to drought and food insecurity, the project will also establish a climate-smart agriculture demonstration farm at Kawala CTTI for community sensitization. Additionally, a tree nursery and pasture development initiatives will be implemented as part of the project, which is expected to be completed within six months.

For over a decade, residents of Thange Ward have endured persistent water shortages, a challenge compounded by contamination of existing water sources due to oil spills.

To alleviate this suffering and create a sustainable all-year-round access to clean, safe and sufficient water, the Government of Makueni County, through the Climate Change Unit, has officially handed over to a contractor the site for construction of the Thange Integrated Water Project. The Kshs 13M project is funded under the Financing Locally-Led Climate Action (FLLoCA) program.

The project will involve construction of a 100,000-litre water sump and intake, water distribution lines, four water points, and environmental conservation measures to protect the fragile riparian ecosystem. Water will be sourced from the Thange Springs, an underground flow from the Chyulu Hills, ensuring a clean and uncontaminated supply.

Once completed in approximately six months, the project is expected to benefit at least 730 households in Machinery Town, Moki, Mbulutini, Thange, Kavunye and Ndungi Street, as well as St. Peters Primary and Secondary Schools.

Beyond improving water access, the project will also empower residents through training in climate-smart agriculture. Community members will receive conical gardens and beehives to boost food production and create alternative sources of income.

Residents of Kee Ward are set to benefit from improved access to clean and reliable water following the completion of the Kyanduu Integrated Water Project, a KSh 15 million investment by the Makueni County Government.

The project was implemented under the Financing Locally-Led Climate Action (FLLoCA) Programme and forms part of the county’s broader commitment to locally led climate initiatives aimed at strengthening community resilience and improving livelihoods.

Designed as an integrated intervention, the project combines water, agriculture, and environmental conservation measures to address chronic water scarcity while enhancing climate resilience. Key components include the desilting and expansion of Kyanduu earth dam, installation of a solar-powered pumping system, construction of distribution pipelines, masonry storage tanks, and four water kiosks.

Once fully operational, the project will benefit more than 1,775 residents of Mbakoni, Kavyuni, and Saki villages, providing sustainable water access for domestic use and irrigation, promoting climate-smart agriculture, and supporting environmental conservation.

The initiative also bolsters Makueni County’s Last Mile Water Connectivity Programme spearheaded by Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr., which seeks to reduce the distance to water sources to less than 2km by 2027.

Makueni Governor used Jamhuri Day celebrations at Kikima Secondary School to highlight sweeping gains in water access and environmental restoration, calling them the backbone of a “humane government that dignifies its people.”

He announced that Makueni is among only three counties selected for the KSh130 million K-WASH programme after developing a county water and sanitation strategy. Kibwezi–Makindu Water Company also qualified for an additional KSh37 million and was recognized for financial reporting excellence.

The governor cited major projects now delivering clean water to households, including the KSh68 million Athi–Kilema–Tunguni system serving 42,500 homes, the nearly complete Kalawa AKWASH project, and the ongoing Kiboko–Twaandu line targeting 1,000 more households. He said partnerships with World Vision and WHH are rehabilitating old water schemes and extending supply to underserved villages.

In a fresh environmental push, Makueni has secured KSh150 million from the World Bank under the Kenya Watershed Services Improvement Programme (KEWASIP) to restore degraded landscapes, strengthen water security and build climate resilience.

The governor urged residents, youth and community leaders to join restoration efforts, saying, “Together we shall build a Makueni where no child goes thirsty and where nature and people thrive in harmony.”

Residents of Mumbuni, Kwa Kathoka, Kaseve, Kwa Mulele and Senda in Muvau Ward are experiencing a new era of reliable water access thanks to the rehabilitated Ndukuma Dam, which was desilted in 2022/2023 by the Makueni County Dam Construction Unit with support from the National Youth Service (NYS).

For years, households in the area relied on unpredictable and often unsafe water sources. Today, the restored dam has eased the burden of fetching water, with many families reporting shorter distances, steady supply, and improved hygiene.

Beyond water for domestic use, the dam has also become a source of nutritional well-being for the community. To boost local food security, 5,000 fingerlings were stocked in the reservoir, opening opportunities for small-scale fishing that now supplements household diets and supports livelihoods.

Looking ahead, the county government is preparing to rehabilitate the existing water distribution network to serve 16 water points, a move expected to expand coverage and reach more residents across the ward.

#WauniWaKwikaNesaNaUlungalu

#LastMileWaterConnectivity

The completion of Athi–Tunguni–Kilema water project has brought long-awaited relief to thousands of households across Kikumbulyu North, Makindu and Nguumo wards, ending years of reliance on raw, untreated water from River Athi.

For decades, families walked long distances to fetch unsafe water, exposing themselves to waterborne diseases and the daily burden of hauling heavy containers. The water is now pumped from the river, treated and distributed through a 27-km pipeline.

For Eunice of Mukononi village, the project is nothing short of life changing. She recalls drawing water from a shallow well dug at the base of Mukononi River, an exposed pit whose high sandy walls could collapse at any moment. That was her everyday reality. Today, she says devolution has finally made meaning to her and fellow residents, as clean water now flows safely to their community.

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr says the project will be expanded to cover a total of five wards.

The long-awaited filling of the UYII Dam to full capacity has officially marked a turning point for the people of Masongaleni. For years, residents endured the exhausting 10-kilometre journey to River Athi, braving heat and hardship in search of water for their families.

Thanks to a collaborative rehabilitation initiative by the County Government and the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA), clean and reliable water has finally been brought closer to the community.

For mothers and children—who carried the heavy burden of fetching water for generations—today is a dream fulfilled. The days of backbreaking treks and exposure to waterborne diseases are giving way to a future of dignity, safety, and hope.

This milestone brings lasting relief to Mukange, Kyumani, and several other water-scarce areas across Masongaleni Ward, offering a sustainable solution to one of the region’s most persistent challenges.