Photo: Daniel Kituku
Makueni County experiences erratic rainfall due to the harsh climatic conditions. As a result perennial droughts and acute water shortages are the norm and many residents walk for long distances in search of water.
Women by the virtue of being home care takers bear the brunt of the biting water shortages and spent valuable hours scouring dry river beds in search of the precious commodity.
It is against this backdrop that the County Women Representative in Parliament, Rose Museo has initiated a project aimed at installing water tanks at household levels through women groups to cushion residents against the water scarcity menace.
Under the project in which the woman representative has partnered with a local organisation called Ukamba Women Needs Organisation (UKAWONE) women in every ward are required to organize themselves in groups to purchase water tanks with a capacity of 2,500 litres directly from the manufacturers at a subsidized price of sh17,000 per tank instead of the usual retail price of sh25,000.
Besides the subsidized prices, the beneficiaries are also allowed to pay the amount owed in six monthly installments of sh2,000 besides a down payment of sh5,000 hence easing the financial burden of acquiring the tanks.
Speaking yesterday in Kilome sub-county when she delivered 20 tanks to Wendo Wa Kyaani and Kayumba women groups in Mukaa and Mavivye locations, Museo said that the tanks would be used to harvest rain water which in most cases go to waste due to lack of water harnessing equipment like tanks.
She expressed confidence that the tanks will go a long way in addressing the water problem in the county saying that the tanks will guarantee beneficiaries a clean supply of water for domestic use.
The women representative encouraged all women in the county to join groups and save money that will enable them to purchase the tanks saying the aim of the project is to ensure that each home stead has at least a water tank.
“Women walk at night or very early in the morning hence risking their lives in search of water but with the water tanks such tales will be a thing of the past,” she said.
Museo noted that although there are water pans and dams the tanks offer easily accessible water and called on other leaders to invest in different water harnessing techniques to make the county water secure.
Felista Thomas a beneficiary thanked the woman representative for the initiative saying the time spend looking for water will be used for other social economic activities.
“Am very happy to have this tank. I used to spend an average of four hours a day at the river sometimes even a day during drought seasons but with this tank that is now behind me,” said the elated Jennifer.
According to UKAWONE coordinator Mary Syokau a total of 83 tanks have been issued since the inception of the project last week in Makueni sub-county.
She added that next week more than 78 women are expected to receive similar water tanks in Mbooni sub-county.
