By Jonathan Mutiso
A MULTI- million shilling Rural Water Supply for Machakos and Makueni Counties is under way.
Water and Irrigation minister Charity Ngilu has inaugurated the Sh 646m project that involves the sinking of boreholes in the two counties.
The government of Japan is partnering with the Kenyan government through the ministry of water and irrigation to ensure Kenyans access clean and safe water through the project dubbed Rural Water Supply.
The project which is funded by Japan under the Grand Aid Scheme is being implemented by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in collaboration with the Ministry of Water and Irrigation.
The project for Rural Water Supply (Phase 2) is a groundwater project that commenced in May 2012. In Machakos County it covers 32 locations in Machakos, Masinga, Mwala, Yatta, Kangundo and Kathiani districts.
In Makueni County it covers 26 other locations in Makueni, Kathonzweni, Mbooni East, Nzaui, Mukaa and Kibwezi.
Phase 1 of the project was successfully completed in Mwingi and Kitui districts in March 2008 with drilling and equipping 58 community boreholes in which Sh500 million was provided as grant aid by Japan government.
Speaking during the groundbreaking ceremony at Yumbuni Secondary School in Yatta Constituency, Machakos County, Mrs Ngilu lauded the government of Japan for its efforts to eradicate poverty in Kenya through water and irrigation projects.
Flanked byformer Nominated MP Mrs Grace Mwewa and Machakos NARC co-ordinator Mr Davis Musau, MrsNgilu said without water there cannot be any meaningful development in any community adding that it is every Kenyan constitutional right to access clean and safe water. In her Basic Needs Revolution campaign, Mrs Ngilu has identified water among Five Pillars that she has set to attain when elected President.
She said that Kenya spends over Sh26 billion to treat people who are suffering from water borne diseases adding that through ensuring clean and safe water is supplied to rural areas Kenya will safe a lot of money to initiate other development projects.
Japan Ambassador to Kenya Toshihisa Takata said the government of Japan will continue to work closely with Kenyan government to ensure the realization of vision 2030 especially on water supply to rural parts of the country.
He called upon Kenyans to uphold peace and shun being divided along ethnic lines as the country moves close to the next general elections in 2013.
He added that the International community including Japan is looking forward for a free, fair and peaceful elections and are working closely with the Kenyan government to ensure that to make this possible.
