The leaders of Nyandarua County, led by Governor Kiarie Badilisha, want a share of the revenue generated by water companies that supply the commodity to Nairobi and Nakuru counties.
The leaders stated that they will not allow companies such as Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company (Nairobi Water) to continue obtaining water from the Sasumwa Dam in Njabini, Kinangop constituency.
Nairobi Water gets its water from three main sources: the Ndakaini Dam in Murang’a County, the Sasumua Dam on the Chania River in Nyandarua County, and the Chania-B Dam in Murang’a County.
Local residents, according to Nyandarua County leaders, face water shortages despite being custodians of the precious resource and the environment around it.
“Nyandarua remains deeply neglected when it comes to fulfilment and actualization of the Kenya Vision 2030 projects and programmes. Some of these projects, like the mega dams, have never kicked off seven years after they were promised,” said Mr Badilisha.
“It is unacceptable that residents of the Njabini-Kiburu, who are the hosts to the Sasumua Dam supplying billions of litres of water to Nairobi, cannot be supplied with water from the dam,” he added.
He claims that the residents of Malewa, who host the Konoike Dam, are suffering the same fate.
“This will not continue happening under my watch,” said Governor Badilisha.
He stated that Nyandarua leaders will not allow the Malewa Dam strategic planning, which is intended to serve Naivasha, Gilgil, and other parts of Nakuru county, to proceed unless the feasibility study is redone to include Nyandarua as a beneficiary.
Leshao Pondo MCA Kamau Gathungu stated that ongoing delays in the implementation of water projects such as the Pesi, Malewa, and Kinja dams have negatively impacted the local economies in the Ndaragua Constituency.
“The dams were designed and promised more than seven years ago. Regrettably, schools in Laikipia county benefit from government-funded school feeding programme while those in Leshao Pondo which neighbour Laikipia are denied the same benefit,” he added.
He stated that by implementing the water projects, the schools will be able to start their own feeding programs by engaging in farming activities, as the schools have large parcels of land that can feed the learner population.
He stated that the Assembly supports the governor’s call for the dam projects to be completed and Nyandarua residents to be given first priority.
