Kirinyaga County has unveiled an ambitious plan to expand access to clean water through 42 new projects scheduled for implementation this financial year. The initiative, announced by Governor Anne Waiguru, aims to deliver safe, reliable water to more than 30,000 residents across all 20 wards, with each project expected to serve between 300 and 500 households. The new facilities will include solar-powered boreholes, upgraded water intakes, extended distribution lines, and installation of large-capacity tanks to ensure homes, schools, and farming communities receive uninterrupted supply. Waiguru said the programme is central to improving public health, boosting agricultural productivity, and easing the water burden that continues to affect rural families.
The county’s renewed investment builds on last year’s achievements, where 37 water projects were completed, including the Kiorugari and Kugeria community schemes and the Rukenya irrigation project. In addition, six boreholes have been drilled since 2024, with five more underway to reinforce supply in water-stressed areas. The expansion is supported by the national Financing Locally-Led Climate Action (FLLoCA) programme, under which Kirinyaga is strengthening climate resilience by improving natural resource management and empowering villages to run localized climate-adaptation projects. Already, communities are witnessing practical benefits: schools such as Kamucege Primary report reduced absenteeism since receiving clean water, while smallholder farmers in areas like Inoi, Nyangati, and Murinduko are tapping into reliable supply for irrigation and kitchen gardening.
The impact of these investments is visible in better hygiene, revived farmlands, and increased economic activity in local markets. Residents say the projects have eased long-standing water challenges that forced families to travel long distances or rely on contaminated sources. With the county also distributing 10,000-litre storage tanks to groups for rainwater harvesting, more households are beginning to practice climate-smart farming at home, lowering food costs and improving nutrition. Governor Waiguru noted that the future focus will be scaling bulk water systems such as the Kerugoya–Kutus project to guarantee long-term supply for more than 400,000 people. As Kirinyaga pushes forward with its multi-year water agenda, leaders believe the county is on a steady path toward universal water access and greater resilience against climate-related shocks.