Mapping begins for Machakos mega water project

Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua

Households in Machakos could soon enjoy access to clean, piped water after the county government launched what appears to be the clearest indicator that the “water for all”pledge is firmly on course.

Just last week, Governor Alfred Mutua launched the Machakos County Comprehensive Water and Food Security Programme where he reiterated his government’s resolve to address water challenges in the county.

And Sunday, the governor flagged off a training of trainers exercise, aimed at inducting some 15,000 enumerators who will carry out comprehensive mapping and gather crucial data from the county’s approximate 300,000 households.

Piped water

Enumerators will be dispatched across the eight constituencies and will, among other things, assess road networks in each village and compute distance between households.

The exercise, expected to last three days beginning today, will be supervised by county staff and is expected to generate data that will facilitate quantifying of materials required to connect households to piped water.

Speaking at the flag-off, the governor said provision of clean and safe piped water to residents will not only improve their dignity, but is also expected to also address the food security issue.

In line with the governor’s projections, Water Services Chief Officer, Lemi Muia, said eight borehole drilling rigs and five bulldozers have already been procured.

Muia was speaking to the Press at Matuu, Yatta sub-county after leading a community sensitisation programme on the exercise.

He said the county intends to supplement surface water with ground water resources, where borehole drilling sites have been mapped out.

“We shall have village-based water distribution points linked to a central reservoir where treatment will be done before being channeled to a reticulation system,” he said.

Last month, the county commissioned hydro-geological surveys throughout the eight sub-counties to identify potential borehole drilling sites, particularly on public institution facilities.