For a long time, most residents of Kithuki Location in Makueni County had to trek for more than 10 kilometres every day under the blazing sun in search of water. But that has changed. Today most residents not only have water close to their homesteads, a good number can now irrigate their farms.
This is the product of an initiative designed to provide water to local people, says Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana. The construction of dams is part of the 'Operation Water Now' initiative that aims to provide water for domestic use and irrigation. "By end of 2017, Makueni residents will have water within two kilometres from their homes," says the governor. The county has rolled out a multi-billion shilling project that envisages to provide each of the 3,402 villages with a dam by the time Prof Kibwana's term comes to an end next year.
In one of the projects, the county government built the Kwa–Mbila dam, a water reservoir which now serves residents of Kithuki Location. The dam, constructed along the seasonal Kwa Mbila River, is now overflowing with rain waters after last month's deluge.
When we visited recently, we found farmers in their lush farms tending to their crops.
"The water here is more than enough for all our needs," said Mr Kilonzo Muthoka as he tended to his healthy tomato plants in a farm where he also grows pawpaws, sukumawiki, hybrid mangoes and sugarcane. Muthoka says residents of four neighbouring villages have formed a group that meets regularly to discuss how best to utilise the water boost their farm yields.
READ MORE
Appeals Court unfreezes KBC, MTRH, Athi water CEOs appointment
Embu village turns into agri-tech haven
Kenyans drink dirty water due to poor management, study says
NBK injects millions into Chemususu Dam Half Marathon to boost conservation and talent development
On the other side of the dam, we are drawn to the drone of a small generator as another farmer, Thomas Masila, waters his crops. Some of the water is used to fill tanks in his home. In his two-acre farm, Masila grows carrots, bananas, water melons, kale, tomatoes and onions.
"Since the water is now near our farms, I now put all my energies on farming. Never again will I depend on rain-fed agriculture," says Masila, as he takes us round his farm, with the breeze from the nearby water mass cooling off the humid temperatures of this semi-arid region.
Masila and Kilonzo sell their produce at Kathonzweni and Mbuvo markets while other buyers come to the farm. The two farmers say if the water that has been dammed is properly utilised, the entire location can be food secure. It is the same scenario on the banks of D4 dam in Kilome sub-county where farming is now the main economic activity.
The governor considers this fruits of their labour.
"Water agenda is critical to us. With the water that is available now, more people have gone into small scale farming. That is one of the surest ways of creating wealth. In a few years time, Makueni is going to be food secure," Prof Kibwana says.
Douglas Mbilu, the county executive in charge of water, irrigation and environment, agrees and says that already, 15 mega dams, among them Kwa Mbila and D4, have been completed and have water.
"By the time the long rains start later this month, we will have completed 40 more dams. Our focus is to reduce the distance between homes and water access points. Ultimately people will be trained in agri-business," Mbilu said.
So far the county government has spent Sh660 million for the construction of earth dams, the sinking of 25 boreholes and construction of 37 sand dams. Mbilu adds that water kiosks will also create jobs for the youth. Mbilu noted that for the first time, Wote town – the county headquarters – has started getting treated water.
The first phase of the programme will focus on providing water for domestic use and small scale irrigation, while the second phase will involve fencing of the dams, establishing water treatment centres and constructing water troughs for livestock.
After this construction work on Wote sewerage system will begin. The restoration of forests in the water catchment areas of Mbooni and Nzaui hills and Kibwezi forests are also part of the programme. "We have banned human activity such as logging, grazing and charcoal burning," Mbilu said.
The county water executive says unlike boreholes which are quite expensive to maintain and are unsustainable, dams are better suited for many parts of Ukambani where rivers cut through.
"A borehole is like a standby generator and is not a long-term solution to water problems. The best solution is to harvest surface run-off and move this water into dams. That way even the water table rises," Mbilu said.
To hasten the harvesting of water, the county has purchased excavators, tippers, earth-movers and a drilling rig. These machines are constantly on the ground in search of water, he said. "Our core agenda is to provide water to the people of Makueni so they can be self-reliant in terms of food security. We want to encourage more people to venture into commercial farming," said Mbilu.
