This archive report was first published on 5 June 2020.
On June 5, 2020, a Sh1.6 billion sewer project for Kerugoya and Kutus town in Kirinyaga County was in progress, with an expected completion date of within the next year.
The project aims to greatly improve the health status of Kirinyaga residents by providing a sewer system, which is currently lacking in the county.
Kerugoya ward representative Kamau Murango stated that the issue of land for the treatment work was resolved by the government through the allocation of over 30 acres at Ahiti land.
According to Murango, the sewer project will be implemented alongside a water project, benefiting over 200 households in the Baricho and Sagana area.
"This project is being funded by a grant from the African Development Bank and the Kenyan government," Murango said.
He added, "Commencement of the actual works for the project was supposed to have kicked off in February, but we are working behind schedule, and the contractor must work extra time to catch up with the time lost."
The MCA emphasized that the completion of the project will bring Kirinyaga at par with neighboring counties like Nyeri and Embu, which have similar facilities in place.
Residents have also appealed for consideration of putting another dam at Gikumbo to supply irrigation water for farmers in the Kerugoya Central and other regions.
"Thiba dam is planned to supply water for the rice farmers in Mwea, hence the need for the extra dam," Murango said.
He also suggested that the contractor consider replacing the old asbestos pipes with plastic ones, as the old pipes could be contributing to water contamination and increased cases of cancer in the county.
Murango further requested that the implementers of the project provide water points along the project route, where firefighters could access water in case of fire outbreaks.
Currently, the firefighting team relies on fetching water from rivers, which takes time and leads to their ineffectiveness.
Kirinyaga County has no sewer system, and residents rely on exhauster trucks to empty toilets, incurring extra costs for traders.
