0
0
Residents of Gatanga Constituency in Murang’a County are celebrating a long-overdue victory as the long-promised access to clean water has finally been delivered.
This achievement was marked by the commissioning of the Ndakaini Dam – Gatanga Community Water Supply Project by President Dr. William Ruto during his recent visit to the region, concluding his three-day tour of the Mt. Kenya area.
One of the most jubilant leaders is Murang’a County Deputy Speaker and Member of County Assembly (MCA) for Kihumbu-ini Ward, Honorable Moses Gachui. For years, Gachui, alongside other committed leaders, has been at the forefront of the push to bring clean water to Gatanga, a constituency that paradoxically hosts the Ndakaini Dam—one of Kenya’s largest water reservoirs—yet had limited access to the very resource it helps to supply to Nairobi.
The fight for Gatanga’s water rights began in earnest in 2015, when the concept of the Northern Water Collector Tunnel was first proposed. Determined to ensure that Gatanga would not be overlooked, Hon. Gachui and like-minded leaders persistently advocated for the inclusion of their community in the project’s benefits. Their efforts have now borne fruit.
“Through the fruits of our fight, despite stirring up the hornet’s nests, I am happy to report that 80 percent of Kihumbu-ini residents are now enjoying fresh water,” Hon. Gachui said with pride. He highlighted the recent culmination of piping connections that have transformed the lives of residents, who for years had to rely on unsafe water sources such as rivers, pans, or streams, with the associated risks of waterborne diseases.
For decades, Gatanga residents faced the harsh reality of water scarcity, despite living in the shadow of the Ndakaini Dam. The dam, while serving as a vital water source for Nairobi, had long symbolized frustration for the local community, who could only watch as water was piped away to the capital, leaving them to struggle with inadequate access to clean water.
That narrative has now changed with the completion of the Ndakaini Dam – Gatanga Community Water Supply Project. Spearheaded by the Ministry of Water, Sanitation, and Irrigation through the Athi Water Works Development Agency (AWWDA), the Ksh 200 million government-funded project is a testament to the government’s commitment to addressing water needs across the country, even in historically neglected regions like Gatanga.
The project involves drawing water from the Ndakaini Dam to the Kigoro Water Treatment Plant via a raw water pipeline, then channeling it through 42 kilometers of newly laid pipelines. These pipelines stretch from the Kigoro Water Treatment Plant to Kiunyu and Thika Greens, passing through Gatanga and serving surrounding areas along the way. Additionally, three new water storage tanks with capacities of 225,000 liters at Ndunyu Chege, 100,000 liters at Mukurwe, and 50,000 liters at Nyaga have been constructed to support the infrastructure.
This comprehensive system now delivers 7 million liters of clean, treated water daily, directly benefiting residents in Ndunyu-Chege, Mukurwe, Nyaga, and other neighboring areas. For the first time in years, families in Gatanga can access a reliable and sufficient water supply, transforming their daily lives and bringing renewed hope.
Looking ahead, ongoing last-mile connectivity projects in Gatanga are set to further expand water access to an additional 20,000 people by February 2025. These projects, also funded by the government at a cost of Ksh 80 million, will ensure that even the most remote corners of Gatanga benefit from the transformative power of water.
The commissioning of this project marks a new chapter for Gatanga, one where water scarcity is no longer a defining challenge. The residents can now look forward to a future where clean water is readily available, improving their quality of life and fostering greater development in the region.
