Residents of Kitui could see improved access to clean and reliable water after the county government and the Tanathi Water Works Development Authority agreed to strengthen their partnership to tackle persistent water shortages.
The planned expansion of the Masinga-Kitui water pipeline intake at Masinga Dam is at the centre of the efforts, with the national government allocating Sh400 million towards the project.
Tanathi Water Works Development Authority (TAWWDA) chief executive officer Sammy Naporos said the project aims to double the amount of water currently extracted from the dam, from 9,000 cubic metres to 18,000 cubic metres.
“Our aim is to double the amount of water extracted from the dam. Currently, we are extracting 9,000 cubic metres and we want to increase this to 18,000 cubic metres,” he said.
Naporos spoke on Tuesday when he paid a courtesy call on Kitui Governor Julius Malombe at the governor’s boardroom, a few months after taking over as the TAWWDA chief executive.
The meeting focused on strengthening cooperation between the county and national governments in addressing water shortages and ensuring residents have dependable supplies.
Malombe said the county government would continue working with TAWWDA despite it being a national government agency, saying both levels of government shared a common responsibility to improve access to water.
“We serve the people of Kitui and we have a common goal to ensure our people have access to safe and clean water in adequate quantities and in all parts of the county,” he said.
The governor said his administration would continue to cooperate, collaborate and consult with national government agencies to accelerate development and improve services across the county.
He said the partnership between the county government and TAWWDA had already played a key role in advancing water projects, particularly in areas experiencing acute shortages.
Naporos said expanding the Masinga intake was among the projects expected to increase water availability in Kitui.
He also listed the Kindaruma-Kiomo water project and Phase Two of the Kiambere-Mwingi water project among major initiatives expected to improve supplies in the county.
The Kiambere-Mwingi project has stalled, but Naporos expressed optimism that work would resume soon.
He said the projects would significantly improve water access for residents in the affected areas once implemented.
The TAWWDA chief executive also disclosed the authority was implementing 34 water projects across the South Eastern region during the current financial year.
Kitui accounts for 16 of the projects, while the remaining projects are spread across Machakos, Makueni and Kajiado counties.
The partnership came as Kitui continues efforts to address water shortages and expand reliable supplies to more residents.
Malombe said the county would continue working closely with national government agencies to ensure water projects move forward and services reach residents.
The meeting was attended by Kitui CEC for Water and Irrigation Peter Nkunda and senior officials from the county government of Kitui, TAWWDA, Kitui Water and Sewerage Company and Kiambere-Mwingi Water and Sewerage Company.
