Kyamakuthi earthdam in Kalawa Ward with a capacity of 210,000 cubic meters. The massive water harvesting solidifies Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr vision of ensuring that every resident has access to water less than 2km from their homesteads. This move also aims to enhance food security by providing water for irrigation.
County Executive Committee Member for Water and Sanitation Eng. John Kieti on Tuesday signed a collaborative agreement with Mbooni Water Mart, a water development partner supported by the Embassy of Netherlands for implementation of water projects in Mbooni.
The agreement aims to develop bulk water supply to increase coverage and boost the last mile connectivity among the residents of Mbooni.
Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr inspects rehabilitation progress of Ngosini concrete dam in Mavindini Ward, Thursday. When complete, the dam will hold 70,000,000 litres of water.
This will be a key water source for residents of Mavindini, and is part of Governor Mutula’s vision to reduce the distance to the nearest water point to less than 2 km.
Waking up at 3 am to queue for a spot to fetch water from the available distant water points has for long been a way of life for many residents in Makueni. Donkeys carrying heavy loads of water jerricans has been a common feature one can’t miss even in Wote town, the county’s capital.
Water vendors have thrived, often charging exorbitant prices for a 20-litre jerrican of water, especially during the dry season when many of the rivers have run dry. In some parts of the county, a 20-litre jerrican goes for Shs 50 during the dry season.
To remedy this situation, Makueni’s Department of Water and Sanitation has crafted an ambitious water development plan, extending water connections from sources to households, known as the “last mile” connections.
One such area benefiting from these connections is Nthangu location, where residents have experienced real transformation. Pastor Thomas Wambua, a resident with a connection in his compound explains that his family can now engage in productive farming, unlike before, where he had to spend Shs 1,000 weekly to pump water from Kamunyii stream using a petrol-powered pump. His church has also registered a higher turn up on Sundays.
The County Government constructed a sand dam and underground sump at the confluence of Kaiti and Kamunyii rivers and installed a mega solar power system to distribute water to more than 10,000 residents and four schools in Kiatine and Nthangu villages. 100 households have obtained last-mile connections by paying a small fee, Pastor Wambua among them.
In Mavindini Ward, Burnice Mutiso is optimistic that completion of Ngosini Concrete Dam will transform her life. “When this dam fills up, I intent to venture into horticultural farming full time. This area is highly productive, but water has been the biggest challenge,” she says. Burnice hawks food to workers at the dam construction site. The dam borders her family land.
The department has prioritized last-mile connections as a solution to the long distances people walk to the nearest water point.
This will be achieved through investment in a main centralized water infrastructure project in each ward (One Ward, One Main Water project); and the use of digital metering and payment in the 30 water projects.
Further, the water supply expansion initiative will involve desilting, expanding and rehabilitation of earth dams; construction of sand dams with sumps; drilling and equipping of boreholes, construction and/ or extension of 160 Kms of pipeline with water kiosks.
In the Financial Year 2024/25, the Department of Water and Sanitation plans to connect at least 1,000 households per ward to clean and safe water by implementing the last mile water infrastructure programme.
This initiative is expected to increase the proportion of rural households accessing piped water from 30% to 50% and urban households from 7,939 in 2022 to 10,920 in 2025.
Currently the department is undertaking massive investments along River Athi to draw, treat and supply water from the river. These include Athi Kalawa water project, Athi Tunguni Water Project, Athi Mavindini Water project.
Govenor Mutula Kilonzo Jnr commissions Kwa Mbila earth dam solar power project during his development tour of Kathonzweni Ward.
The 11,760 watts solar system replaces a diesel powered water pump which supplies water to 23 villages in Kathonzweni and Kitise/Kithuki wards. The project serves 13,500 beneficiaries.
During a working tour of Kathonzweni Ward on Friday, Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. commissioned several projects to improve access to clean water for domestic use and irrigation. These projects include a solar power system at the Kwa Mbila earth dam, Itumbule and Milute boreholes.
The governor also unveiled a backhoe that will facilitate surface run-off water harvesting through construction of water pans. Residents will benefit from this initiative at a cost of only Shs 2,500 per hour, which covers fuel expenses.
In the Financial Year 2024/25, the Department of Water and Sanitation plans to connect atleast 1,000 households per ward to clean and safe water by implementing the last mile water infrastructure programme.
This initiative will increase the proportion of rural households accessing piped water from 30% to 50% and urban households from 7,939 HHs in 2022 to 10,920 HHs in 2025.
The National Irrigation Authority in collaboration with the County Government of Makueni has unveiled a 100,000 cubic meters (equivalent to 100 million liters) water capacity earthdam in Kiuuku village, in Kitise/Kithuki Ward.
The inauguration ceremony was presided over by Vincent Musyoka, Chairperson of the Parliamentary Energy Committee and Mwala MP, flanked by John Kieti, the County Executive Committee Member for Water in Makueni and area MP Suzanne Kiamba on Wednesday.
The Ksh 19M project aims to address the persistent water scarcity in the ward by providing a reliable source for both domestic use and micro-irrigation. About 7,000 residents will benefit from this project.
On Monday evening, Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr in the company of county water officers toured two strategic water investment projects – Kamunyolo dam and Ndukuma, recently rehabilitated for spot inspection.
These projects signify Governor Mutula’s unwavering resolve to increase access to improved water sources from 46 percent to 70 percent (by 2027); and reduce the average distance to improved water sources from 3 km to 2 km.
On Ndukuma, the next phase will involve installation of a treatment plant, distribution, and fish stocking.
Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili on Friday hosted the Nairobi Rivers Commission (NRC) led by chairperson Dr. Pamela Olet for a discussion on joint efforts to safeguard Nairobi river basin water resources against pollution.
Mulili affirmed the county government’s commitment to environmental sustainability while insisting on the importance of inter-county partnerships in tackling contamination of water sources especially through industrial effluents and untreated sewerage.
Makueni is among counties bearing the brunt of water contamination from the upstream of River Athi.
The Department of Water and Sanitation on September 22, 2023 commissioned 37 complete water projects to bring quality potable water closer to the people.
Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jnr dispatched his entire cabinet to commission the projects in all the six sub-counties, in a move aimed at reducing the distance residents walk to available water sources to less than two kms from their homes.
The commissioned projects are among 54 completed within the first year of Governor Mutula’s administration in 2022-2023 Financial Year.
