Residents of Ithanga and Kakuzi-Mitubiri wards in the lower Gatanga region of Murang'a County have for generations faced significant challenges stemming from lack of access to clean water.
The lower Gatanga region is arid and often experiences acute drought that leads to famine due to lack of rain and without the provision of piped water, residents trek many kilometres in search of water from dry riverbeds.
The water crisis has not only affected households but has also taken a toll on local schools, posing a health risk to students and pupils owing to poor sanitation and poor hygiene practices.
However, with the completion of the Sh3.5 billion Ithanga Water and Irrigation project, the residents' struggles to access clean water will soon be history, as the commodity will not only make life bearable but also cushion them from perennial food shortages.
