Where is the Water? Kiamunyi People Raise a Hand

Water is a critical natural resource for every form of life and it is the backbone of humankind's sustainability. Its growing demand against the increasing scarcity could threaten the welfare of the human race, a situation that could give birth to catastrophes.

Governments ought to ensure the availability and adequacy of this crucial commodity for all their subjects, which is why a Ministry of Water exists within any administration. The Kenyan Administration has however turned a cold shoulder to the people of Kiamunyi, Nakuru.

The residents have attempted to cure their furrowed brows by sinking boreholes and intensifying their reliance on rainwater. This has been occasioned by the unreliable nature of the city council's water rationing.

Dennis, a local, expressed his distress, saying, “the rationing is so undependable around this place, because the refill can only service you for two or more days. So, we are forced to rely on salty borehole water, which is only suitable for cleaning. I’d request the Government to come in and ensure tapped water reaches the outskirts of this area.”

However, it was not always like this. The community once enjoyed the luxury of the Government’s water provision, a trend that deteriorated after President Moi's retirement but tried to hold up under President Kibaki. A few years down the line, their body armor went bespoke.

This situation has therefore, occasioned a demand for drilling boreholes during the construction of residential houses in efforts to reduce incurring costs of purchasing water through trucks.

A significant water distributor commonly known as Baba Evans also shared his take on the matter mentioning that some borehole water has been tested and approved for human consumption.

“The Kanan water project is mandated with servicing the larger Kiamunyi but as at now, the privilege is only enjoyed by Baraka residents. The locals have no choice but to rely on the borehole water supply, luckily, some dealers like myself, offer pure water that is lab tested and approved for intake,” he noted.

Mercy, a water vendor, gave an outlook on the business considering the state of affairs. “Prices of water have been constant for a while now, that is, Kshs. 150 for every 20 litres. This was a drop from the previous Kshs. 200, following a shift from Naivasha to Molo suppliers.”

An entrepreneur named Margaret denounced water prices, mentioning the inactive tanks in the Eden area, which could greatly help if they were revived to facilitate the ordinary citizens.

“When the rainy season seizes, we are obligated to buy water for drinking and cooking, at very unfair prices of course. The well-to-do are the only ones who enjoy adequate supply of water in their homesteads. We mostly rely on a common borehole called Majichumvi.”

Residents have endured this slap in the face and they have lived with the pain for a long time. They ask the Government to shake a few branches, and what falls out of the tree will be received with open arms.

This situation has occasioned a demand for drilling boreholes during the construction of residential houses in efforts to reduce incurring costs of purchasing water through trucks.