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ByWambui Kirubi
Hope for the about 50,000 residents of Mwingi who rely on the Kiambere-Mwingi pipeline to get water after a 23 day shortage, was thwarted by heavy rains that poured recently.
Only hours after the Kiambere Mwingi water and Sanitation Company (KMWSCO) technicians finished fixing three weeks breakdown at the Kiambere dam water intake, overnight down pour caused the flooded Kamuwongo seasonal river to wash away a section of the pipeline dooming efforts to restore water supply to Mwingi town.
The KMWSCO managing director Paul Kinuba said that with the washing of the pipeline, Mwingi residents have to brace for a prolonged water shortage.
“It is unfortunate that the pipeline was washed away hours after water started reaching Mwingi town. This means that current water shortage has to persist as we do everything in our capacity to restore the damaged pipeline,” said Kinuba as he inspected the damage.
Since the water shortage gripped Mwingi and its environs early in October following a major breakdown of the pumping system at the Kiambere intake, residents have had to dig deeper into their pockets to purchase water as the price of a 20 litre jerrican reached sh. 100 up from the normal Sh10.
On October 11, the Tanathi Water Services Board (TWSB) under which KMWSCO operates announced measures to solve the water problems that have perpetually dogged Mwingi residents whose lifeline is the Kiambere-Mwingi water pipeline that has seen frequent breakdowns.
“We are determined to end the water crisis. It is a fact that the system had outlived its ten years life span since it was installed 1998. We have invited dealers to supply a new pump that should be in place in about a month to help resolve the current water crisis in Mwingi once and for all,” said the TWSB chief executive officer Nicholas Muthui.
As a stop gap, the CEO mandated the Kiambere-Mwingi Water and Sanitation Company (KMWSCO) l Kinuba to have the broken down water pump repaired in Nairobi and restored in less than two days so that water pumping could resume.
However, the TWSB boss said the current water problem would be a thing of the past once the phase two of the project funded by the Italian government to the tune of Sh. 1.4 billion kicks off in February next year.
Muthui said that not only will phase two of the Kiambere-Mwingi water pipeline boost water supply to meet demand for water but will see that a new pumping component, boosters and parallel pipeline are put in place to ensure supply of water to far off towns like Tseikuru, Katse, Nguni and Migwani.
