Residents of Kanjama village, Mathioya Sub County in Murang'a County have demolished part of Ksh263 million government irrigation project in the area.
The irate residents demolished the structure to drain water collected in it, claiming that it had become a breeding hub for mosquitoes and threatened their health.
"This project has caused a lot of suffering to us. Mosquitoes have become too common and denied us peace since we cannot sleep," said one of the residents.
They added that the number of people seeking medical attention after suffering malaria-related infections had increased drastically, with residents stating that a handful of cases were reported before the commencement of the project.
They further requested the government and well-wishers to support them in getting mosquito nets as well as accessing medical services as most of them were already sick.
Besides, the residents, through area Member of County Assembly (MCA), vowed to lodge a court case to compel the government to re-evaluate the health risk posed by the construction.
The Mukuru wa Nyagathanga Water Project has now remained a pool of stagnant water, which has exposed them to various health hazards while pointing fingers to the National Irrigation Board for its laxity.
Murang'a County Member of County Executive Committee in charge of health, Cecilia Kibe, said that there is a need to address the rising cases of infections in the counties proximate to the Equator, some of which have been occasioned by climate change.
According to a report by the World Health Organization, cases of Malaria continue to rise across the globe despite the various measures that have been instituted by respective governments to curb the spread of the deadly disease.
For instance, the report indicates that in 2019, there were approximately 227 million cases of Malaria infections, a number that grew to 241 million cases in 2020.
The number of deaths related to the disease have also spiked, with 629,000 succumbing in 2020, a rise of over 69,000 in 2019.
