Mathare North water intervention, Flagging off Ceremony, Tree planting and Clean up at Ondiri Swamp

The Cabinet Secretary Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation Hon. Sicily K. Kariuki (Mrs.) E.G.H accompanied by Nairobi Metropolitan Service Director General Maj. Mohammed Abdalla Badi inspected Mathare Community Water Supply Project and flagged off 30 water tanks donated by World Vision Kenya. Later they proceeded to Ondiri Swamp in Kikuyu, Kiambu County for a clean-up and tree planting exercise.

The Mathare Community Water Supply project aims at creating a healthy, safe and sustainable environment through provision of clean and portable water, a right enshrined in the promulgated constitution of 2010 and a follow up to the Presidential Directive to provide free water for informal settlements during the COVID – 19 pandemic.

They also officially received and flagged off a donation of 30 water tanks from World Vision Kenya. The water tanks will be distributed to various informal settlements across Nairobi to aid in provision of clean and portable water during the COVID – 19 Pandemic. The tanks are worth more than 2 Million Ksh and will come in handy to the residents as they practice good hygiene to keep COVID -19 at bay.

While speaking at the event NMS Director General thanked World Vision for the donation while also emphasizing the collaboration between Nairobi Metropolitan Services and Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation in bridging the water gap for Nairobi. He also spoke about embarking on measures to regulate water supply through the registration of water vendors, bowsers and exhauster services in Nairobi.

The CS Water was happy to note that since the COVID – 19 pandemic the Ministry has been able to work with its departments and agencies to put up short term water investments by setting up 1,927 hand washing points in Nairobi to curtail the spread of the virus with a total of 5,537 across the country. She also reiterated her commitment to bridging the water deficit by ensuring prompt completion of The Northern Collector Tunnel in Muranga by December 2020. She also addressed the issue of sanitation and efforts in place to improve sewerage through Ruai and Kariobangi Waste Water Treatment Plant which will go a long way in improving hygiene.

Later the CS, NMS Director General, Principal Secretary Mr. Joseph I. Wairagu and other senior officials proceeded to Ondiri Swamp for a clean up and tree planting exercise. Ondiri Swamp which is Africa’s second largest swamp with an rich array of biodiversity has greatly been affected by human interference, environmental degradation and varying climatic conditions hampering its capacity as a constant source of water. They took part in the exercise being spearheaded by Water Resource Authority and other sector players responsible for protecting and preserving wetlands.

While speaking at the event the CS Water emphasised the need to employ strategies that provide sustainable restoration of water bodies and that legal action should be taken against those polluting our sources of water. She was also concerned about the rate at which public land set aside for expansion has been illegally obtained and that the land needs to be reverted for its intended purpose.