An aerial view on a treatment plant on the banks of Kamburu dam. The plant will process 10,000 cubic metres of water daily for supply to residents/ ALICE WAITHERA

More than 80,000 residents of the semi-arid Mbeere South in Embu
county are set to benefit from a Sh800 million water project, stemming
perennial  shortages spanning decades.

Kamburu Water Supply Project involves the channeling of
water from Kamburu dam, establishing a treatment plant, storage and laying of
120 kilometres long of distribution lines, with the aim of resolving long-standing
water scarcity in the area while supporting local agriculture.

The project was launched by President William Ruto in April 2024
and construction works started in August.

It will channel about 10,000 cubic metres of water daily to
households who have been forced to take long walks in search of water despite
living near the Seven Folks dams.

Dorcas Kithaka, a resident of Mavuria area, said the project
will mostly reprieve women who are forced to use two hours everyday to fetch
water from Kamburu dam using donkeys.

“This project will be a life-saver for us women. Without
water, it becomes very difficult for women to tend to their families. It will
also improve hygiene in our homes,” Kithaka said.

She pointed out that numerous residents have lost their
limbs to hippos and crocodiles as they fetch water from the dam.

Fredrick Thiga, another resident, said the human-wildlife
conflict in the area has been aggravated by lack of water that forces wild animals
out of Mwea Game Reserve.

With the project, Thiga noted that they will be able to
improve their farming activities and boost food security while raising their
income.

“Water is life. There’s nothing that can survive without it.
As it is now, it’s very difficult for us to farm or even keep livestock because
of lack of water,” he said.

Residents of Mbeere South using donkeys to fetch water /ALICE WAITHERA

The project’s community liason officer Mwaniki Nyaga explained that the project is part of a larger Sh2.1 billion project that
will draw water from three dams, Kamburu, Kiambere and Masinga, and supply
it to locals.

Kamburu water supply project, he said, will address numerous
challenges that residents have been facing, and drastically raise the economy
of the area.

Learning institutions will also be heavily reprieved as they
are currently forced to use water bowsers to provide water to learners.

“If you go to the markets, you will see many water bowsers.
They are there because they are the ones that provide water to schools. The
water fetching costs in turn make learning operations very expensive,” he
added.

In homes, Nyaga said improved hygiene will reduce the
prevalence of diseases and cut the number of people seeking health treatment in
local facilities.

Residents will also be able to use the time they have been
using in search of water to engage in other economically productive activities.

“We are also encouraging them to start kitchen gardens to
boost their families’ nutrition and further improve their health,” he said.

Nyaga called on the government to ensure it’s completed in
the stipulated time saying the availability of the commodity will enable
residents to better contribute to the economy.