Govt set to build four dams in Embu to serve four counties
Water CS Eugene Wamalwa (2nd left) Embu Governor Martin Wambora (left), Runyenjes MP Cecily Mbarire and Embu Senator Lenny Kivuti shortly after Mr Wamalwa opened a water quality testing laboratory in Embu Town March 9, 2016. Mr Wamalwa said the government would build four dams to serve Embu parts of Kirinyaga, Tharaka-Nithi and Kitui. PHOTO | CHARLES WANYORO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Another tender for the construction of Thuci dam to serve Runyenjes and Siakago in Embu County and parts of Kirinyaga, Tharaka-Nithi and Kitui counties had been advertised.
- Mr Wamalwa urged service providers to lower water costs saying some people were charging as much as Sh20 for a 20-litre container.
- Engineers from Tana Water Services Board visited the site earmarked for Kamumu dam, whose design has already been finalised.
- Mr Wambora said the projects would propel development in the county.
The Government will build four big dams in Embu County, in a bid to boost access to drinking and irrigation water in four counties.
Water Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa said the government had already advertised tenders for three major dams, Rupingazi, which will serve Mbeere South, Thambana, which will irrigate Manyatta and Mbeti South, and Kamumu dam to serve parts of Mbeere North.
He said another tender for the construction of Thuci dam to serve Runyenjes and Siakago in Embu County and parts of Kirinyaga, Tharaka-Nithi and Kitui counties had been advertised.
Speaking when he toured Embu County Wednesday, Mr Wamalwa said construction works would start later in the year.
He said the dams would help increase crop production threefold and ensure residents have clean drinking water.
Mr Wamalwa said the government had embraced private-public partnership in its operations.
SOLVE WATER PROBLEMS
“These dams will have the capacity to hold millions of cubic metres of water that will supply residents with drinking and irrigation water. Once complete, the water problems will be a thing of the past,” he said.
Mr Wamalwa was accompanied by Governor Martin Wambora, Senator Lenny Kivuti, Deputy Governor Dorothy Nditi and MPs Cecily Mbarire (Runyenjes) and John Muchiri (Manyatta).
He urged service providers to lower water costs saying some people were charging as much as Sh20 for a 20-litre container, which he said was beyond the reach of majority of Kenyans, especially the rural poor.
He said the Water Resource Management Authority (Warma) had also set up water laboratories in Murang’a and Embu counties to ensure people receive clean drinking water to eradicate water borne diseases.
He said the national government would help counties to set up sanitation services to boost cleanliness.
Engineers from Tana Water Services Board visited the site earmarked for Kamumu dam, whose design has already been finalised.
Mr Wambora said the projects would propel development in the county.
