Meru Governor unveils plan to install 225, 000 litres water tank in Mt Kenya
Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza has unveiled her Government plans to install a 225,000 litres water tank at Mt Kenya in a bid to curb water shortage and increase the number of Kenyans connected to safe piped water.
“We will install a 225, 000 litre capacity water tank with an intake at Mt. Kenya. This project will profit beneficiaries for centuries,” Said Kawira.
The Meru governor was speaking at Mukungu in Ruiri Rwarera ward while launching Sh 30 million expansion and rehabilitation of the Kathita -Ruiri water project.
According to Kawira the launched project will additionally increase the proportion of households with access to safe water for drinking and irrigation, especially in semi-arid areas.
“This mega water project will transform the multi-sectoral face of that semi-arid region and greatly contribute to the improvement of the area residents’ quality of life,” the governor said.
The project is expected to convert more arid and semi-arid land in the County into agriculture.
For the past three years, most parts of Meru County especially the semi-arid areas have been experiencing droughts due to lack of rainfall hence resulting in a water Crisis and drastic drop of water levels in rivers.
Among the rivers affected is River Kathita, River Mariara, which flows through Central Imenti, and River Thingithu, which flows through Meru to Tharaka Nithi among others.
These rivers have been important sources of water for various households and also for agriculture. Drastic low levels of the water in these rivers have denied residents who live downstream access to the vital commodity.
