The
press statement released by opposition leader Raila Odinga reignited a heated
debate among the Kangema people. Several residents turned into their social
media accounts to continue with a debate that started last year to air their
views. It is ironical that the government wants to divert water destined to
Nairobi while the locals are going up and down to look for water. Kangema
people have been suffering to get enough water and felt wasted when they heard about the project that could end up drying up their river streams.
It is observable that the rivers such as Mathioya, Boyo and
Mukungai that serve the people of Mathioya, Kangema, and Kiharu have been
drying up over the years. The current situation of River Boyo is worrying.
Several households in Kangema are not piped with water and the lucky ones get
it twice or thrice a month. Some residents such as lower Kangema have been
airing their grievances to their leaders with no help. The water staffs from
companies such as Kahuti Water Company offer no formidable help and resulted to
rudeness as they are in dilemma to supply sufficient water. It was notable
that some people always get water some few days to end month, a strategic way
for companies to collect the water bills.
As the debate continues, it was notable that the irrigation
farming project that was initiated by Late. Hon John Michuki to cover lower
Kangema stalled due to insufficient water despite contributions by the
residents.
The expert report for Northern Collector Tunnel is worrying, not
only to Kangema people but also to the entire Murang’a people as the impact on
down-streams will also affect other projects such as Wanjii Dam that is used to
generate electricity by KenGen. Such project uses water captured from different
river that are at risk including Mathioya, Boyo, Maragua, and Mukungai rivers.
As the debate continues, the Kangema follows their previous MP's
sentiments that "You will only construct these
mole tunnels over
my dead body" but wonder why their current MP
is still mum on the matter.