This archive report was first published on 27 September 2021.
On September 27, 2021, residents of five towns in Murang'a County were set to benefit from a Sh800 million World Bank-funded water project aimed at reducing the health burden associated with the lack of clean water.
The project, which is 80 percent complete, targets Maragua, Nginda, Ichagaki, Kamahuha, and Kambiti towns and is expected to be launched mid-next year.
According to Dr. Stephen Ngigi, County Deputy Director of Medical Services, a majority of the dwellers in these towns have at one time suffered negative health effects from using contaminated water.
“Waterborne diseases are the ones caused by pathogenic microbes spread via contaminated water. Transmission of these pathogens occurs while using infected water for drinking, food preparation, and washing clothes,” Dr. Ngigi explained.
Health Executive Joseph Mbai attributed the main undoing to poor investment in technologically driven methods of proper water treatment plants, especially in rural areas.
“In some places, the availability of water is so scarce that people have neither the time nor the money to afford water purifiers or other water treatment mechanisms,” Mr. Mbai said.
Ichagaki Member of County Assembly Charles Mwangi noted that the project would improve investments in the beneficiary towns.
“We have classic lodgings that, owing to lack of water, operate on less than half competitiveness value…where a self-contained room that would have charged Sh800 per night if it had showers is going at between Sh250 and Sh500 since the clients are given water with basins. We have hotels that have closed shop owing to the water crisis and rental rates remaining sluggish,” Mr. Mwangi said.
