Some Murang’a residents want President William Ruto to appoint the Presidential Delivery Unit to resolve water wrangles surrounding the Maragua dam.
Early last year, the President helped end a four-year battle over the control of the Sh800 million dam between Murang’a Water and Sanitation Company (Muwasco) and Murang’a South Water and Sanitation Company (Muswasco).
The dam completed in 2023, has the capacity to provide 15,000 cubic metres of water daily to Maragua town, Maragua Ridge, Kambiti and Saba Saba and boost water coverage in the constituency from the current 20 per cent.
The fight had split residents and leaders, as some proposed Muwasco, saying it had the capacity to manage the dam, while others insisted Muswasco had lobbied for the dam to increase its coverage.
The President who was on a visit, however, announced that Muwasco, whose primary jurisdiction included Murang’a town and its environs, would manage the dam.
But residents said the order has not been fully implemented as boundaries have not been reviewed to give Muwasco a clear work-space.
“Many Maragua residents are yet to be provided with clean water from the dam because there’s confusion on which areas should be covered by a particular company,” Murathi Magochi said.
Initially, Muswasco covered Maragua, Kandara and Kigumo constituencies, with many expressing concerns that its area of jurisdiction is too huge, making it difficult for the firm to supply water to homesteads and complained of water rationing.
With a significantly smaller area, Muwasco had already achieved a 96 per cent coverage and has been seeking to expand.
Magochi said soon after the President gave the order, Muwasco opened offices in Maragua town but that some residents who visit for help are unable to be served.
“Its unfortunate that in some parts of Maragua, Muwasco has been unable to provide water to some homes due to the boundaries issues.
“Residents of areas such as Kaharati along Thika-Murang’a road don’t know which company should provide them with water. We want this issue clarified,” Magochi said.
He accused the county government of taking a back seat and failing to proactively resolve the issues as many continue to fetch water from rivers, exposing them to diseases.
Magochi urged the national government to consider funding the proposed Maragua 4 dam that is set to be established on the boundaries of Kiharu and Kigumo constituencies to ensure all Murang’a homes are connected to piped water.
Habire Chege, another resident, said putting the unit in charge of such projects would expedite the implementation due to it’s nonpartisan nature.
He said the county government struggles to make firm decisions that may aggrieve some parties, hampering implementation of some projects.
“We want the President to put the county commissioner in charge of such projects that spark conflicts so they can be implemented without hindrances.”
Andrew Thuo, a resident of Maragua subcounty, said though the county has facilitated several meetings between the two water companies and government agencies, they have not successfully resolved the underlying issues.
Had it been fully implemented, the presidential order would have seen most Maragua homes provided with the commodity, he said.
Mary Nyambura said since Maragua town was connected to water, hygiene in the market has been greatly boosted, reducing the prevalence of diseases.
“But in some of the villages surrounding the town, people continue to fetch the commodity in streams and wells,” she added, saying provision of water in rural areas would enable locals to boost their agricultural production.
by ALICE WAITHERA
