Villagers up in arms over prolonged acute water shortage in Murang’a
Residents of Gatungururu, Thangira and Athara villages in Maragua constituency, Murang’a county, are up in arms over prolonged acute water shortage.
The residents claim that the area has been neglected for decades as other Kenyans continue to enjoy clean and safe water.
The acute shortage of water at the interior place has triggered strong protests by locals who now want the Cabinet Secretary for Water, Sanitation and Irrigation Alice Wahome, who comes from the neighbouring Kandara constituency, to intervene and provide a lasting solution. 
Currently, the locals have been drawing dirty water from a man-made stream which they treat through boiling before consumption.
At the stream that is situated near a swamp, the thirsty locals are forced to scramble for muddy water with livestock due to a lack of alternative sources.
Salty water
Lately, however, residents led by Judy Njeri decried that water from the stream has turned out to be salty.
Njeri further lamented that soap has not been dissolving during their washing exercise, a state of affairs she said has diminished hygiene levels at home.
“We draw our water from this stream which is nowadays salty. It’s been hard for us to enjoy good food as it has been turning to funny colours such as yellow and blackish once cooked. The high fluoride levels in the water we are consuming has also begun to stain our teeth. Even with the salty water, we are forced to compete for drinking with our livestock,” Njeri said.
Josephat Murigi Waicere, a village elder, accused local elected leaders of ignoring them despite overwhelmingly voting for them.
He regretted that as a result of consuming dirty water, most locals have been grappling with water-related ailments saying that children are bearing the brunt and are often forced to take drugs to treat worms.
Adults, he said, have resorted to taking herbs to keep away water-related ailments which he insisted can only be addressed if the government promptly intervenes and provides them with safe water.
“In which corner of Kenya are we because all other areas are drinking clean water. Until when are we going to take herbs to stay away from water-related ailments? We have a new government and a new Water CS who happens to come from this area, we expect positive results this time round,” Murigi lamented.
In the wake of an embroiling tiff pitting CS Wahome and a section of Murang’a women leaders, Andrew Thuo, a local leader called on the former to ignore the political theatrics and deliver for the suffering locals.
Thuo urged Wahome to personally tour the area to witness the numerous water challenges that locals have shouldered for decades to fast-track a lasting solution.
“We are pleading with you CS Wahome, come to the ground and witness for yourself the challenges we have been having. Women here still walk for kilometres in search of water which is still scarce. Please come and help us establish a lasting solution to the perennial water issue,” Thuo pleaded.
