A proposed Sh3 million water project in Mekenene ward is likely to be delayed due to a disagreement between residents of two villages over the site where the project is supposed to be installed.
The project was proposed by the county government of Nyamira and Lake Basin Water services.
Initially, the county government had identified Mogusii village as the most suitable site due to availability of space, only to reverse its decision and award Mwongori village the privilege due to presence of many institutions around it.
However, a meeting held on Wednesday morning to finalise the preparations for official commencement of the project came to a standstill after residents from the two villages engaged in verbal attacks.
Speaking after the tense meeting, Mekenene MCA Mr Alfayo Ngeresa urged elders from the two villages to convene a meeting and come up with a concrete agreement or lose the project to another ward.
“I represent both villages so if I support one side, I will be biased. It’s now upon the elders from the two villages to convene a meeting and come up with a neutral decision that will be favorable to both sides or we risk losing the project to another ward,” he said.
Ngeresa condemned the tension but insisted that the issue of the site should not divide the residents since the county government would facilitate pumping of the water to catching points to ensure all residents access the water.
“I don’t think the issue of the site should trouble us because the county government will facilitate pumping of the water to areas such as trading centers and other points like schools,” he said.
Ngeresa gave the elders two weeks to decide the fate of the project after which they will be required to table findings to the committee in charge of the project.