The long-distance walk-in search for clean water by the women and girls of got Nyabondo in Kajulu has come to an end, following the commissioning of a borehole in the area by the County Executive member for Water, Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources, Mr. Salmon Orimba in the company of a delegation from water is life organization yesterday.
Mama Gaudencia Aluoch, who could not hide her joy said, “we are grateful for the miracle, we have indeed starved for water especially during the dry spell, having to wake up very early or walk long distance in the dusk in search for water, posing a security threat to our women and girls”.
“We struggle for water during drought as a result of our seasonal rivers, so I gave out my parcel of land for the project for people of got Nyabondo to get water,” said the host, Mama Angeline Otene
The project was undertaken on a fifty- fifty partnership by the County department of water and Water is life, an NGO dealing in water services.
The water project cost Shs. 1.8 million with a capacity yield of 5m3 per hour of clean and safe water, equipped with solar pumps and panels, 12meters steel tower, 10m3 tank. It is designed to serve 400 households, a population of 2,000 people.
The people include the community members of got Nyabondo, the market, Oriang’ and Soweto primary schools in the area.
Speaking during commissioning the project, the CEC said the county government is committed to alleviating water problems in county through partnerships since the budgetary allocation given is inadequate.
He commended the Water is Life organization for their support in providing a solution to the people of got Nyabondo through the water project. He also thanked the host for donating the piece of land in which the project has been built saying it was a good move to embrace development and that the water will improve the livelihood of the locals.
He called on the community members to form the water management committee who will manage and maintain the water project for sustainability and posterity.
The Chief officer, Madam Maryline Agwa also echoed the need to sign an MoU with the owner of the land where the project stands so that it remains under the ownership of the community.
She further expressed confidence that the time spent in long walks by women and girls in search for clean water will now be spent in education by the girls and viable income activities by the women.
The Water is life founders Mr. ken Surritte, Maria Jose, Cote Terre and Camilla Sancho expressed their joy to see the project a success and a solution to the needs of the people of Nyabondo.
According to Cote Terre who is a journalist said in her works, she likes showing realities especially on matters water is life. She thanked the donor Madam Fatma who donated towards the construction of the borehole adding that she was glad that the locals can now sustainably develop in their studies and economically having the water brought closer to them.
The event was graced by the area Chief Mr. Tom Ongadi, the Ward Admin Mr. Billy Ong’ou, Village Admin Kajulu East, Mr. Richard Arogo and County officials among other guests.
By; Emily Mikwa
