For years, residents of Mwea in Kirinyaga county relied on irrigation canals for drinking, cooking, washing and other household needs, exposing families to water-borne diseases.
The situation has changed following the implementation of the Mwea-Makima Water Project, with diarrhoea cases in the area falling by 63 per cent, according to county health data.
The project is among the major initiatives implemented by Governor Anne Waiguru’s administration.
It has provided safe water to about 30,000 people in more than 7,500 households across Gathigiriri, Nyangati, Thiba, Mutiithi, Wamumu and Tebere wards.
Speaking during an impact assessment of the project, Water and Environment executive Kinyua Mutugi said it had addressed a longstanding challenge faced by residents who depended on irrigation canals for domestic use.
“Before the implementation of this project, we had serious challenges accessing clean, potable water. Most people depended on water from rice canals, which exposed them to water-related diseases,” Mutugi said.
Water from the canals was exposed to chemicals and other contaminants from agricultural activities, increasing residents’ risk of illnesses such as typhoid, dysentery and cholera.
The Mwea-Makima Water Project has extended water services to Rurii, Mutiithi town, Maendeleo, Thiba North and South, Haraka, Ngurubani town, Kimbimbi, Mbui Njeru and parts of Nyangati, as well as villages across Gathigiriri.
More than 200 water projects have been implemented during Waiguru’s tenure, improving access to clean water while supporting better hygiene and sanitation.
Her administration has invested in water pipelines, storage tanks and boreholes across the county to improve water connectivity.
Waiguru also pledged to complete ongoing water projects worth Sh100 million in Mwea before the end of her final term.
County Director of Public Health Peter Irungu said routine health data showed a significant decline in diarrhoea cases in Mwea following increased access to clean water.
He said the area recorded 19,061 diarrhoea cases in the 2018/19 financial year, but the number had dropped to 6,900 cases by the 2025/26 financial year, representing a reduction of about 63 per cent.
“Since residents started using clean water, there has been a significant improvement in hygiene and sanitation standards in the area,” Irungu said.
He said the decline in disease cases demonstrated the health benefits of investing in safe water, sanitation and hygiene. He noted that communities without reliable access to clean water remained vulnerable to preventable diseases.
Irungu added that poor hygiene and sanitation particularly exposed children to illnesses that could affect their health and disrupt their education.
For residents, the impact has been felt in their homes and businesses.
Hotel operator Henry Mugo from Tebere ward said clean water was now reaching areas that had previously struggled with supply.
He said improved water access had benefited businesses and households in remote areas, including Githogondo.
“The water is really clean and we are happy to use it at our hotel because we no longer have to worry about stomach problems like before,” Mugo said.
John Kaboco from Nyangati recalled how families previously had limited options and were forced to depend on irrigation canals or wait for rainwater.
“Children were unable to drink the water and we could not even wash clothes, especially white ones, because they would get dirtier,” he said.
Kaboco said residents frequently sought treatment at Kangu Dispensary for worms and amoeba, while diarrhoea kept some children away from school.
He said the Mwea-Makima project had addressed many of the challenges, allowing families to access clean water and live in better conditions.
The gains in water, hygiene and sanitation have also been complemented by the construction and operationalisation of the Kerugoya-Kutus Bulk Sewer Project, which has improved waste management while reducing health and environmental risks.
Mutugi said residents previously relied on exhausters and biodigesters to manage waste, but the sewer system had provided a more efficient way of disposing of wastewater and reducing the risk of contamination and pollution.
The sewer project has benefited both private and public institutions, particularly in Kerugoya and Kutus.
At Alber School in Kutus, proprietor Alfred Nyaga said connecting the institution to the sewer system had improved hygiene and eliminated the unpleasant smell that previously affected the school.
“As major beneficiaries, we can testify to how convenient the project has been for us. It used to cost us a lot of money to empty septic tanks, but the sewer system has now relieved us of that exorbitant cost,” Nyaga said.
