Scarcity bites as Ngilu turns water heat on Kalonzo

Waeni Musyimi doesn’t have time, 7, to play like his age mates do over the weekend and during holidays. He wakes up at five in the morning and heads straight to the fast drying River Katine — two kilo metres from their Kathithyamaa home in Isinga, Kangundo District.

On Monday, the Standard Two pupil was among the villagers fighting for the river bed water because they say it’s too costly at the borehole.

When the Nation arrived, seemingly tired villagers were not willing to speak for fear of being jumped in the queue .

“Yesterday, my wife camped here to wait for the water. We only have one bore hole around here and the water is too expensive for us,” said Nicholas Muya, of Kathithyamaa, an area hard hit by water shortage for years.

The father of five says his work at home stalled because he was always out beside his wife in search of water.

“Look around here. No activity is taking place in my shamba,” said Mr Muya. He is among residents who can’t afford Sh5 for the Ndovoini B borehole water.

The Ndovoini B borehole was launched by Water minister Charity Ngilu on June 23, 2009.

Ms Kalunded Munyao, a single mother of one who uses 14 20-liters jerricans of water every day, walks four kilometres daily to buy water from the borehole, but when the queue is long, she heads to River Katine now dry.

According to the residents, the water do surfaces occasionally and they use the opportunity to scope it for washing items.

“But often, we end up using it to cook because we don’t have an alternative,” said Ann Wambui.

The patron of Ndovoini B borehole Mr Martin Ngene is hopeful that the residents’ suffering will come to an end soon.

“I believe the Water minister is not aware that other bore holes which were to supply water are hardly functional,” said the 79-year-old who gave out land for the construction of the bore hole.

But on Monday, the minister toured the borehole and accused the disbanded Kenya Anti Corruption Authority of getting its facts all wrong on allegations that she should be prosecuted over corrupt dealings in her ministry.

Mrs Ngilu conducted the Press around the controversial Ndovoini borehole in Kangundo constituency, Machakos, which is alleged to have been commissioned despite being incomplete.

According to KACC, whose investigation findings we published in the Nation on Monday, the borehole ran dry soon after it was commissioned.

On Monday, the minister was accompanied by two water directors, Mr Charles Kimeu (Tanathi Water Services Board), Mr David Nyamu (Water Resources Management Authority) and area DC Charity Chepkonga.

Mrs Ngilu alleged that former KACC director Prof Patrick Lumumba was not sincere in recommending that she be investigated over corruption.

“We had high hopes when Lumumba took over KACC but unfortunately the good professor opted to add fuel to the politics of Ukambani."

Mrs Ngilu took Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka head on at the brief function she held at the borehole site, saying the VP and some leaders in Ukambani had schemed a plot to stop her from advancing the political interest of the Prime Minister Raila Odinga in the region.

“I know Mr Musyoka’s hand is in this. There was a time he wanted me out of the Water ministry, accusing me of starting so many projects in Ukambani; now he is trying to advance a campaign by leaders associated with the G7 groupings to destroy those they perceived to be loyal to the PM. It’s a big shame,” she claimed.

But contacted, a spokesman for the VP Mr Kaplich Barsito denied the allegations.

In a short messages service, Mr Barsito said: “Nothing could be further from the truth; the VP is neither behind her tribulations nor does he consider her a political rival.

“If anything, he is on record defending her, saying investigations should not be tools for witch-hunt.”

Owes apology

But Mrs Ngilu added: “It is laughable for KACC to say that I should be investigated over a project that is benefiting wananchi daily. If anything KACC owes me an apology but if they insist that I should be charged over this project, so be it.”

The minister watched as villagers filled their 20 litre jerricans with water. “This is the project that I’m being told I should be investigated over; they are saying it dried up and it is KACC suggesting so. Shame on them.”

A caretaker selling the water, Ms Tabitha Wambui said she does not recall a single day that the project stopped running. “Actually we are working everyday including Sundays,” she said.

A resident, Mr David Kyalo read politics in the accusations.

Mrs Ngilu said by dragging her relatives into the water saga, KACC was trying to portray her as practising nepotism.

“They are grown up Kenyans, well educated and independently running their businesses; should they not bid and win just because they are related to Ngilu?” she asked.