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Water

MAKUENI COUNTY GOVT. TO DISTRIBUTE WATER IN KIIMA KIU- KALANZONI WARD FROM 2 DAMS.

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. has promised Kiima Kiu-Kalanzoni Ward residents that the County government will distribute water to local residents from Katilini and Kilombo dams in the area.

The area has suffered prolonged drought, leading to scarcity of water.He spoke on Monday at Kyamuloi village when he handed over 6 tents and 600 chairs to organized groups in the area. The tents have a capacity of holding 100 people each.

Each group received 1 tent and 100 chairs through the Department of Gender, Children, Youth, Sports and Social Services.

Area MP Thaddeus Nzambia and MCAs led by Deputy Speaker, Francis Mulwa and area MCA, Justus Mwanzia attended the function.

WAUTU/KYANGAATI SAND DAM: TRANSFORMING LIVES WITH CLEAN WATER, CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE, AND CLIMATE RESILIENCE.

Wautu/Kyangaati sand dam in Ilima ward, Kaiti Sub-county, currently 80% complete, is being constructed across Wautu River and is set to transform the lives of the local community.

Once operational in a month, the project will provide clean water for domestic use to 250 households, nearby educational institutions, and Wautu Market. Additionally, it will support irrigation for the cultivation of 5,000 avocado trees, boosting household incomes through sustainable agriculture. As part of the project’s environmental impact, 400 riparian tree species will be planted to restore the land and promote conservation efforts.

This project is a collaborative effort between the Government of Makueni County and the World Bank, funded under the Financing Locally-Led Climate Action (FLLoCA) program.

MAKUENI’S WATER DEPARTMENT CALLS FOR COMMUNITY SUPPORT TO COMBAT VANDALISM OF WATER INFRASTRUCTURE

The Department of Water and Sanitation is urgently appealing for community assistance to address the rampant vandalism of water infrastructure, which has caused severe disruptions in water distribution across the county.

Since last year, water installations valued at Sh 45 million have been vandalized, with the vandals targeting solar panels, generators, G.I. pipes, water tanks, gate valves, air valves, and other critical components of water distribution systems. These acts of sabotage have left thousands of residents without reliable access to water.

On Tuesday, County Executive for Water, Eng. John Kieti, inspected the vandalized Kaangi borehole and Kamuthini water projects. The destruction of these facilities has plunged over 1,500 households into a water crisis, exacerbating the challenges faced by the community.

Kieti emphasized that, in addition to collaborating with the community to tackle this issue, the county government will henceforth implement stringent security measures. These include erecting razor-sharp fencing around key water source points, installing CCTV cameras for surveillance, and amending the Makueni Water Act to classify vandalism as an act of economic sabotage, with offenders facing severe penalties.

GOVERNOR KILONZO JR. ENGAGES DSIF ON FUNDING FOR SUSTAINABLE WATER PROJECTS.

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. on Wednesday met with Madam Tina Kollerup Hansen, Senior Vice President of the Investment Fund for Developing Countries under Danida Sustainable Infrastructure Finance (DSIF), in Nairobi.

DSIF, a Danish Organization, provides funding for infrastructure projects in developing countries, focusing on sustainability as a key pillar.

Tina expressed interest in Makueni’s water harvesting modes and pledged to support the county with feasibility studies and funding for sustainable water management.

During the discussions, Governor Kilonzo affirmed his government’s commitment in development cooperation to improve the quality of life for Makueni residents.

The meeting was attended by DSIF Investment Director Andrew Githaiga and County officials, including Eng. David Makau (Water), Eng. Naomi Nthambi (Energy), Felistus Mutune (Office of the Governor), and Deputy Director Gloria Katheu Mulwa (Partnerships).

MAKUENI STEPS UP WATER GOVERNANCE REFORMS

Makueni’s Water and Sanitation Department is spearheading a series of governance reforms in the county’s Water Service Providers to ensure residents have access to reliable and sufficient water.

On Wednesday, the County Executive Committee Member for Water, John Kieti, met with the leadership of KIMAWASCO in Kibwezi to address the company’s operational challenges, including the loss of 52 percent of water supplied in the form of unaccounted-for water.

The department is employing a multi-pronged approach to combat this issue, including securing funds to automate all water draw-off points, reducing commercial water supply losses, and enacting a water act that will criminalize infrastructure vandalism.

BUILDING A WATER SECURE MAKUENI

In an endeavor to enhance water access to residents of Makueni, through the Last Mile Water Connectivity program, County Executive Member for Finance Damaris Kavoi on Monday launched Mulima dam phase 2 distribution works, on behalf of Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr.

This project aims to enhance the pumping system of Mulima’s treated water to Syiluni hill and distribution through the existing pipeline to residents of Mbooni and Tulimani wards.

The launch was witnessed by CECs John Kieti (Water), Japheth Mang’oka (Lands), Nicholas Nzioka (Devolution) and area MCA Alexander Mulemba.

UN EYES EXPANSION OF MAKUENI’S SAND DAMS SUCCESS ACROSS KENYA

Makueni’s sand conservation efforts have caught the eye of the United Nations Mission in Kenya, which now seeks to replicate the sand dam conservation technology to the rest of the country.

On Friday, a delegation of 12 UN agencies and the State Department of Devolution trooped to Makueni for an experiential learning mission on the impact of sand dams towards addressing water shortages, food security, climate change and ecological restoration.

The experience, according to UN-Mission Kenya Resident Coordinator Dr. Stephen Jackson will be key in upscaling sand dams’ construction in Makueni and other parts of the country through a joint working framework with the Ministry of Devolution and counties.

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr who hosted the delegation said Makueni is heavily investing in sand dams as a solution to perennial challenges of hunger, water shortages and negatives effects of climate change. The county has a total of over a 1,000 sand dams, with potential for 1,000 more across its major seasonal rivers.

Devolution Principal Secretary Teresia Mbaika who coordinates all development partners in the country led the UN delegation to Makueni.

GOVERNOR MUTULA HOSTS CHRISTIAN AID TEAM.

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. on Thursday hosted Christian Aid representatives from London, Mr. Nick Georgiadis and Elizabeth Walker, at his office in Wote, marking a significant step towards deepening development partnerships in Makueni County.

Christian Aid, a UK-based charity, has been at the forefront of impactful projects in Makueni, working closely with local partners such as Kitise Rural Development (KRD), Cereal Growers Association (CGA), and Anglican Development Services Eastern (ADS-E).

During the meeting which focused on water access and food security, Mutula emphasized on the importance of ensuring safe and clean water is available for both agriculture and households.

“Equitable access to water is essential for the well-being of our residents and the growth of our economy,” he stated.

The meeting, also attended by Christian Aid Kenya Board Member Ms. Pauline Nguyai, further explored on key initiatives including bulk water and irrigation projects, solar-powered water systems and last-mile water connectivity to boost food security and improve livelihoods across the county.

This collaboration highlights a strong commitment towards sustainable development and a brighter future for Makueni.

The governor was flanked by County Secretary Dr. Justin Kyambi, alongside County Executive Committee Members for Water and Agriculture, Eng. John Kieti and Ms. Joyce Mutua respectively.

MAKUENI DEPLOYS SMART METERS TO END NON-REVENUE WATER.

While Makueni faces higher water demand than the supply capacity, water service providers have struggled with the menace of unaccounted for water (Non-Revenue water).

Statistics from the three water supply companies: WOWASCO, KIBWASCO and MBOWASCO indicate that non-revenue water accounts for 30 percent of the total water produced and which never reach consumers.

This menace has continued to pile pressure on the county government’s purse as it invests more resources in water infrastructure development to meet the daily demand of 60,000,000 liters. Current water production stands at 30,000,000 according to Water Executive Committee Member John Kieti.

To quell the non-revenue water problem, Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr has instructed water companies in the county to invest in technology such as smart meters, bulk water meters, high-density polyethylene pipes and leakage detectors.

The roll out of the smart meters has kicked off with 31 water points done in collaboration with Welt Hunger Hilfe (WHH) and Water Mission already installed. This has recorded a huge success and the water department plans to replicate this in all water dispensing points.

The smart meters have also reduced revenue leakages as customers use prepaid token cards or mobile money wallets to pay for water drawn. This means that all the water one draws is equivalent to the amount of token points swiped, and all the cash goes to a bank account.

To enhance the smart metering program, the county government has secured Sh 39M funding from USAID’s Sustainable, Transformational, and Accessible WASH Interventions (STAWI) project. The funding will support the three water service providers, each getting Sh 13M, to install the smart meters in all their water points across the county.

GOVERNOR MUTULA HANDS OVER SITE FOR CONSTRUCTION OF NDUKUMA DAM WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. has officially handed over the site for construction of Ndukuma Dam Water Distribution System to the contractor. The dam, with a capacity of 365,000,000 litres, will supply water to 16 distribution points in Phase 1, benefiting over 6,000 residents.

The phase 1 distribution system comprises of 15 M3/hr pumping system, 13,400 Watts of solar power, 100 M3 masonry tank and 7km pipeline network.

This initiative is part of Governor Mutula’s Last Mile Water Connectivity Programme, which seeks to expand access to clean and safe water. The programme targets achieving 70% water coverage in Makueni County by 2027.