Kiganjo residents have said that Thiwasco has been rationing water in the area and it's only available at night. [Photo|Standard Digital]
Kiganjo residents in Thika have decried a biting water shortage which has now entered the fourth day in a row.
The shortage has been occasioned by the move to ration water by Thika Water and Sewerage Company (Thiwasco) as a result of decreasing water volumes at Thika dam.
According to residents, water only comes late in the night and in small quantities leaving residents to seek alternative sources like boreholes and wells which may expose them to waterborne diseases.
"We really do not know what is happening because there hasn't been an official explanation by Thiwasco. Some are saying it is because of the dry weather which I disagree with because we have had dry weather before and water was in regular supply," Hannah Wambui, a Kiganjo Corner One resident said on Tuesday.
Patrick Kiarie who operates a small eatery at Corner Three says that he has been incurring extra costs as he has been forced to source water from as far as Makongeni.
"I have to hire a 'mkokoteni' guy to go and buy water for me from Makongeni where water supply hasn't been affected. I fear borehole water and I do not want to put the health of my customers at risk," he said.
However, according to Thiwasco Managing director Dr Moses Kinya the company has a capacity of supplying about 37,000 cubic metres of water daily, against a demand of about 45,000 cubic metres which has even reduced due to hot weather.
"To ensure at least all Thika residents get some water, we have been forced to introduce a water rationing programme and it is not only Kiganjo residents who are victims," Kinya said in his office.
He said that plans to construct a Sh850 million dam to curb water shortage in the populous town, which will add 15,000 cubic metres of water daily into its system was still in course.
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