A private school is donating free water to residents from drought-stricken areas in Matungulu, Machakos County.
Kangundo Junior Group of Schools’ director Charles Kilonzo said they provide 40,000 litres of clean water to the affected locals and public schools on weekly basis.
“We supply clean water to areas that have been hit hard by drought in Matungulu Sub County as corporate social responsibility,” said Kilonzo.
Kilonzo addressed the press at Kyaume Primary School in Tala on Monday when he supplied the institution with the commodity.
He said women and children from Kyaume, Sengani and Katine Sub locations spend nights queuing for water at Kyamole Spring, 4 kilometres from their homes.
“I was motivated to do this few months ago when I saw long ques at the only one spring in Kyamole, four kilometers away. Women and children sleep there waiting for their turn to fetch water,” said Kilonzo.
Kilonzo said the initiative has averted the situation seeing women engage in productive economic activities to fend for their families.
He said women spend whole day walking long distances to look for the commodity as their children missed school before they started the free supply.
“Sometimes children fail to attend school due to lack of water in both their homes and schools, the situation is terrible,” said Kilonzo.
Kilonzo said there are boreholes drilled by Machakos Government which are lying in the region unused as the residents continue to suffer because they were poorly done hence no water.
He said water tanks supplied by the same government to public schools in the region are dry due to drought.
Kilonzo said leadership of the county government should consider de-silting Tala and Kwa Ndeto dams to save the situation.
He accused Machakos governor Alfred Mutua of erecting his signposts at the dams claiming they are county government projects.
“Tala and Kwa Ndeto Dams are dry, locals need water. The county government should de-silt them instead of erecting sign posts on the dams done during colonial era,” said Kilonzo.
Kilonzo said he had put aside Sh 600,000 to continue providing the community with water for the next three months before it rains.