Residents in Murang'a county took matters into their own hands when they had to work for free to aid the government to complete a water project in their locality.
The residents from two villages in Kandara sub-county dug trenches of more than 17 KMs to facilitate the laying of the water pipes so as to have water supply in their homesteads.
The government had allocated Ksh80 Million for the procurement of pipes. However, no money had been set aside for the labour costs of the projects.
The residents took it upon themselves to have the project done since the government had provided the pipes.
Kangunduini MCA Peter Mburu stated that the residents took up the task of digging trenches and laying the pipes connecting homesteads.
"Locals dug trenches of more than 17 kilometres from the water source and connected to homes. This initiative helped them to easily access water as there were no funds set aside for the work of installing the pipes," he stated.
Murang’a South Water and Sanitation Company (MUSWASCO) will supply the residents with water. The project will see more than 6,000 homesteads have access to clean water.
O nits part, MUSWASCO deployed its engineers to assist the locals to connect the pipes during the process.
The residents explained that with the connections they would be receiving tapped water for the first time since independence.
"Residents of the two villages have been experiencing acute water shortage, a situation that has frustrated sanitation in their homes, livestock rearing and even causing their children to suffer from water borne diseases," a local leader explained.
The water company assured that it would charge reasonably for residents to access the water.
"We are grateful now that clean piped water has finally reached our homes. We can now grow vegetables with ease since water will be in plenty and also support the rearing of dairy cows," one of the villagers stated.
