Thika Township MCA Kennedy Mwangi says waterborne diseases are the main cause of increased absenteeism among school-going children in Kiandutu slum.
Speaking in the slum on Tuesday after distributing water treatment chemicals in partnership with One Kenya, a Thika-based NGO, Mwangi said waterborne diseases cause a lot of suffering and yet they are preventable.
He also said that provision of clean water to residents would lower the cost of treating cholera patients in Kiambu County hospitals.
"A few weeks ago we saw many patients of cholera coming from this area. If the county government could just give clean water to residents then we will not incur a lot in treating cholera patients," said the MCA.
Mwangi asserted that children, who are mostly the victims, would concentrate on their studies fully.
Bill Coble, One Kenya Initiative Director, called the county government and other stakeholders in the water sector to partner and provide clean water to the residents at a minimal cost.