Makueni dam project transforms arid land into flourishing farms

Kilonzo Muthoka at his farm at the Kwa Mbila Dam in Kithuki Location, Makueni County. The County Government has constructed 15 dams across the county. [Photo: Philip Muasya/Standard]

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.