Naivasha peasant farmers to get piped water after 18-year wait

A tractor mows down farm produce that had been planted by peasant farmers in ADC farm in Ndabibi Naivasha. [Photo/Antony Gitonga]

Over 1,000 families in Mwiciringiri Naivasha are set to benefit from piped water after waiting for 18 years.

The families, mainly peasant farmers, have for years bought water from vendors after the community project collapsed back in 2007 leading to untold suffering.

Under the project that is being carried out by the County and Naivasha Water and Sewerage Company, the families will in a week’s time start receiving water supply.

According to Hellsgate Ward MCA Virginia Wamaitha, the project collapsed after the community was overwhelmed by the rising power bills.

Wamaitha noted that the county government had since cleared the bills and set aside funds to pipe water to over 1000 homes.

Speaking after the contractor took over the project, Wamaitha said that the area dispensary was closed down due to lack of water.

“In the next two weeks the project will be complete and over 1,000 families will benefit from water and we expect the closed down dispensary to open up,” she said.

The MCA further raised her concern over the status of Moi South Lake road which leads to tens of flower farms, hotels and the geothermal-rich area of Olkaria.

She noted that frequent flooding had become the order of the day every time the upper areas of Kinangop rained.

“We are asking the Ministry of Roads to look into the issues of drainage as all water flowing from Kinangop is finding its way to Hellsgate ward leading to massive destruction,” she said.

One of the area residents Samuel Kinja, said that the water project collapsed back in 2007 forcing them to seek water from streams that have since dried up.

“This is a God-sent project as it will address the problem of water which has been a challenge to this area for years,” he said.

This was echoed by Bishop Joseph Maina who noted that the water project would come in handy in assisting open the only dispensary in the area.

On his part, the contractor Nicholas Obiero said that local youths would be used in the project that requires laying of new pipes.

“With the assistance of the local youths, we expect the project to be complete in less than a week and all the homes will have piped water,” he said.