It was a sigh of reprieve for residents of Chua location in Katangi Yatta Sub-county after a water project was launched in the area.
Speaking during the launch in St Martins mixed secondary school on Tuesday Yatta Member of Parliament, Francis Mwangangi, promised the project would also ensure distribution of water in the area making the commodity available to the residents.
“There has been a water shortage crisis in this area and now Kaandaria dam that is being drilled will provide water to all homesteads in this area,” said Mwangangi.
Residents walk for long distances to access water with the most affected being women.
Water is life and that is why my office has embarked on this project to see to it that the residents of Chua and Katangi get water available near their households.
The residents have been faced with acute water shortage over the past four months after the water sources they depend on dried up.
Mary Daudi one of the area residents stated that she has had to walk for almost two kilometers to fetch water as those willing to fetch and supply water do so at a very high price.
“Sometimes I wake up at 5:30am to go fetch water to cook and prepare my children to go to school. There are people who sell water but it is expensive because a 20-litre container is being sold at Sh20,” said Daudi.
According to Mwangangi the project is aimed at a long-term solution that will see elimination of water shortage in the area.
This comes a few days after water mapping programme was concluded in the Machakos County households that is part of the County’s comprehensive water programme aimed at supplying every home with clean water.