- A major water project has been commissioned to address longstanding shortages in Lower Eastern.
- The government has outlined plans to expand household water connections and improve access across the region.
- New dam construction plans are expected to shape the next phase of water infrastructure development.
The National Infrastructure Fund will now be used to construct dams and reticulate water to households across the country in a more structured and coordinated way, President William Ruto has announced.
Speaking at Mbiuni during the commissioning of the Mwala Cluster Water Project on Saturday, President Ruto said that Ksh300 billion had already been set aside for construction of 12 dams, including two dams in the Ukambani region.
The President said the government had moved to streamline the water sector to ensure value for money and lasting solutions.
The Mwala Cluster Water Project commissioned in Mbiuni Ward, Mwala Constituency, is one of the flagship interventions to end decades of water scarcity in Lower Eastern. The project, valued at Ksh1.47 billion, is funded by the African Development Bank in partnership with the National Government through Tanathi Water Works Development Agency and the County Government of Machakos.
The project has a production capacity of 6.6 million litres of clean water daily and is expected to serve over 120,000 residents in its initial phase, with projections rising to more than 270,000 residents upon full completion in Mwala and Matungulu sub-counties. The beneficiary areas include Mwala, Makutano, Masii, Kivandini, Wamunyu, Kathama, Ol Donyo Sabuk, Mbiuni, Mbaani, Kilembwa and Kyawango, among other trading centres.
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The scope of the project involves development of water intake works at Ndarugu River in Kiambu County, construction of water treatment facilities at Kyeleni in Matungulu Sub-County, establishment of a booster station at Syathani in Mwala Sub-County, installation of storage tanks at Muthei in Masii Ward and laying of a 105-kilometre main pipeline traversing Kayatta, Mbiuni, Mwala, Masii, Makutano and Kyuluni.
President Ruto said the second phase will focus on last mile connectivity to ensure water reaches individual households. He noted that in the next budget next month, the government will allocate Ksh200 million towards the distribution of Mwala Cluster water to households, with an additional Ksh500 million earmarked for the last mile programme to cover an extra 120,000 residents in Mwala Constituency.
“In the next budget next month we will allocate Sh200 million towards the distribution of Mwala Cluster water to your households,” said President Ruto.
He said Mwala and the Ukambani region in general had for a long time faced the problem of water scarcity, which the government was now addressing in a deliberate and systematic manner.
“The people of Machakos, Kitui and Makueni are hardworking but the challenge has been water scarcity. We are going to solve the problem systematically. We must be deliberate and intentional in addressing water shortages in Ukambani,” he said.
The commissioning marked the beginning of President Ruto’s four-day development tour of Ukambani, covering Machakos, Makueni and Kitui counties, where he is expected to launch major road projects, affordable housing and electricity connectivity projects.
By Gastone Valusi
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