Residents of Thika have been assured of adequate water supply as the town gears to attain city status in a few weeks’ time.
The Thika Water and Sewerage Company (Thiwasco) has announced a raft of measures it is undertaking to ensure there is sufficient and uninterrupted supply of water to the estimated population of 400,000.
Later this month, the Senate Standing Committee for Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations is scheduled to tour and inspect the once renowned industrial hub before officially bestowing it as Kenyas sixth city.
If the move is ratified by the Senate, then Thika becomes Kenya’s sixth city after Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Eldoret and Nakuru. This aligns with Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi’s plan to make Thika an industrial smart city.
Thiwasco chief executive Moses Kinya says part of the initiatives increase water distribution include construction of a 14.6 million cubic meters dam along Thika River in partnership with Danish international development agency DANIDA and the harnessing of more water from Karimenu Two Dam and nearby rivers.
Kinya says the expansion plans also include a 70,000 cubic meters waste water treatment plant at Pilot Estate in the town, meant to improve sewage disposal as a result of the expected increased water supply.
“This is meant to increase supply to match the projected population growth which indicates that by the year 2047, there will be a water deficit of 110,000 cubic meters in Thika town,” Ruo pointed out.
Similar sentiments were expressed by Thiwasco Director Shem Kivyatu and the Chairman of the Kiambu County Assembly Committee for Environment, Water and Forests Joseph Kibuu who allayed fears of water shortages in the near future.
They spoke during a tree planting exercise at the Thika sewerage treatment plant near Kiganjo Estate where an estimated seedlings were planted in a joint venture with various stakeholders.
Kivyatu added that some of the steps taken to ensure constant water supply is planting of trees in catchment areas like rivers, forests and swamps.
On his part, Kibuu said the County Assembly has supported the Kiambu water supply and distribution companies to overcome revenue generation hurdles and continue to execute their mandate.
At the same time, he expressed confidence that the water firm is prepared to meet the demands of Thika’s proposed industrial city status.
Echoing the urgent need for government support, Thika Business Community Chair Alfred Wanyoike called on the national government to fast-track funding, emphasizing that residents have endured persistent water shortages.
Wanyoike at the same time dismissed as impossible any scheme to merge Thiwasco with other water firms in the county or divert its water resources, saying the institution should be allowed to run independently.
The ambition to elevate Thika Town into Kenya’s sixth city took a significant step forward after the Kiambu County Assembly unanimously approved a report proposing its transformation into an industrial smart city.
