Boreholes project to quench thirst of Meru residents
Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi (centre), Public Service CS Margaret Kobia (second right), Deputy Governor Titus Ntuchiu (right), Meru Twaweza Programme patron Priscilla Murungi (second left) and Education CEC Linner Nkirote arrive at Meru National Polytechnic on Friday for the closing of the programme’s seminar. PHOTO | ISABEL GATHAE
What you need to know:
Under the project, 500 boreholes will be drilled in five years at a rate of 100 every financial year.
Flagging off the drilling machines, the Governor said the 100 boreholes are expected to be functional and supplying water in the next five months.
Governor Murungi also pledged to end perennial land conflicts in the region by ensuring that the government provides the necessary resources.
Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi has commissioned the drilling of solar-powered boreholes as he seeks to keep his campaign pledge of providing enough drinking water to residents.
Under the project, 500 boreholes will be drilled in five years at a rate of 100 every financial year.
The boreholes will help alleviate water shortage, reduce the hours residents spend fetching water and prevent spread of waterborne diseases in the region.
Flagging off the drilling machines, the Governor said the 100 boreholes are expected to be functional and supplying water in the next five months. He was accompanied by his deputy Titus Ntuchiu on Friday.
Of the 100 boreholes the county will start with, the Governor said Igembe region, which faces severe water shortages, will have 42 boreholes drilled. The other 48 will be distributed in other dry parts of the county.
Expressing his commitment to provide sufficient clean drinking water for households and for irrigation in the arid zones of Meru, Mr Murungi said the county has contracted Davis & Shirtliff who have pledged to make the project a success.
ACHIEVE HIS VISION
“The county government will only pay for the boreholes that will produce water after drilling.
“The firm will also install solar powered pumps to supply the water especially in areas where there is unreliable power,” said the governor.
The water source will also be managed in conjunction with the community, who will ensure that the boreholes are well taken care of.
This will be done through the Boreholes Management Committees that will oversee the maintenance of the facilities.
On unity, the Governor pledged to work with all other leaders in Meru County and the national government to achieve his vision of making the county great.
Governor Murungi also pledged to end perennial land conflicts in the region by ensuring that the government provides the necessary resources.
Land conflicts would be a forgotten story in the Meru County as ownership would be formalised through issuance of title deeds.
REGIONAL POLITICS
“The national government has given 50 surveyors to see to it that everyone has a title deed by December to help spur up development in Meru,” he said.
Mr Ntuchiu urged Meru people to concentrate on development as regional politics would weaken the county, leaving no room for development.
He said the drilling of boreholes would continue in the subsequent years until the targeted figure of 500 is attained by the year 2022.
Speaking during the launch, Meru Senator Mithika Linturi urged residents to unite so as to give Governor Murungi time to fulfil his election pledges.
“We want nothing else but development. Disunity and hatred will not build Meru. Let’s support the Governor as he serves us,” said the Senator.
Igembe Central MP Kubai Kiringo praised Mr Murungi for living up to his election promises to the voters and pledged to join the Governor in fighting land cartels in Meru.
The cartels, the legislator observed, have in the past frustrated issuance of title deeds at the Maua Land Registry.
