Meru MCAs want polluted boreholes shut down

A resident of Rwarera in Buuri Sub County in Meru quenches his thirst at a borehole in the area on January 3, 2019. [File, Standard]

Meru County Assembly members have asked the executive to close boreholes with contaminated water.

In a report compiled by the Water, Environment and Natural Resources Committee and presented in the assembly by Betty Kiambati, the MCAs said water in some of the boreholes was unfit for human consumption.

It also emerged that one of the boreholes, which cost over Sh5 million to sink, now serves only livestock because of high salinity in the water.

The committee chaired by Romano Mwito undertook to investigate the status of the new and old boreholes after Abothoguchi Central MCA Ayub Bundi raised the alarm.

Mr Bundi said residents in his ward in Central Imenti Sub-county had stopped using borehole water because of impurities.

Another borehole in Ntunene, Igembe North Sub-county, was found to have water that was too salty and was thus turned into a watering point for livestock.

“Some boreholes have water that is unfit for human and livestock consumption. If the committee says some boreholes must be shut, we thank them for that recommendation. Contractors must engage stakeholders at all stages of projects,” nominated MCA Robert Kinoti told the assembly in a session chaired by Secondina Kanini.

Meanwhile, the Meru County Government plans to spend Sh320 million in drilling 50 more boreholes.

Out of the 37 boreholes sunk by the previous regime, only two have been equipped.

The government has allocated the amount in the 2019/20 financial year to drill the boreholes, distribute pipelines and construct elevated tanks and related infrastructure.

The county government, in a report to the assembly, said the Water Department had requested for Sh90 million for equipping the boreholes, to give residents easier access to water.

The executive also said a rig bought by former Governor Peter Munya's administration and which for a long period had been grounded due to mechanical problems, is now operational and will be used to drill more boreholes in the 2019/20 financial year.

MCAs Jane Kanana and Grace Gakii said the executive had done well to sink boreholes in the areas where water was acutely scarce.