EWASCO’S NEW 14KM PIPELINE QUENCH THIRST FOR GACHURIRI SUBLOCATION RESIDENTS

Despite their proximity to River Rupingazi, communities living around it have always lacked water.

This scenario is about to change thanks to the Embu Water and Sanitation Company Limited (EWASCO) which has laid a 14 kilometers pipeline that will now quench the thirst of over 5,000 households surrounding the river.

According to the Company’s Ag Managing Director CPA Dickson Njiru, the company has also set up a number of community water points.

The residents from villages including Kinondo , Bolvet , Kangeta, Gachuriri among other communities along the new pipeline will no longer have to cover tens of kilometers with their animals and children in search of water as the project has largely reduced the distance covered to reach a water point.

“We are grateful to Embu Water and Sanitation Company Limited for setting up the pipeline because it will reduce cases of water borne diseases, as well as the risks of being attacked by wild animals when fetching water at the river that is many kilometers away,” a resident of Kinondo said.

During the stake holders workshop held today at Gachuriri area, Anode Njue chief Gachoka Location noted that the project will reduce cases of absenteeism in schools as children will no longer have to trek long distances to fetch water.

The chief said Women will now avoid travelling long distances to fetch water while carrying children on their backs. Public institutions including Churches, schools, health centers will be a priority of this project as individuals are encouraged to apply for connections at their homesteads.

EWASCO Board of Directors present in the stakeholder’s workshop promised to support the company by laying down strategy that will slow down cases of lack of water experienced during the dry season.

Embu county government through the Mbeti Member of county Assemby Hon. Muriithi Kiura and Embu County Executive Member Ministry of Water, Irrigation and Natural Resources Eng. Florence Musyoka thanked EWASCO and WSTF for taking the basic commodity where it has never reached.

The water is also estimated to serve about 5, 000 goats, 3, 000 heads of cattle and unknown number of donkeys.

The project has been made possible through funding by Kenya Water Service Trust Fund [KWSTF] to a tune of Ksh 17.8 million.

The project is scheduled to be complete by December 2022.