For nearly three decades, residents of Gathiriga village in Githioro Ward, Kipipiri Sub-county in Nyandarua County, endured life without a reliable source of clean water, relying on seasonal streams that often dried up during droughts.
That struggle has now come to an end following the commissioning of a solar-powered borehole and water reticulation system by Nyandarua Governor Dr. Moses Kiarie Badilisha.
Speaking during the official launch of the project, Governor Badilisha emphasised the importance of clean water access as both a basic human right and a means of restoring dignity to communities.
“Access to clean water is a human right and one of the ways in which we dignify a people,” he said.
The new water system is expected to significantly transform the lives of local residents by ensuring year-round access to safe drinking water and supporting agricultural production through irrigation.
By harnessing solar energy to power the borehole, the project minimises operational costs, making it more sustainable and manageable for the community.
Beyond its social and health benefits, the project promises a wave of economic empowerment for households in Gathiriga. With water now available at the homestead level, families can engage in income-generating activities such as poultry keeping, dairy farming, and irrigated kitchen gardening, initiatives previously limited by water scarcity.
This not only enhances food security but also opens up new streams of household income.
Time and energy once spent walking long distances to fetch water can now be redirected towards productive activities, including small-scale businesses and cottage industries such as soap making, food processing, and brick making.
These ventures are especially viable in rural settings and can spur job creation and local economic growth.
In addition, improved hygiene and sanitation facilitated by constant access to clean water will lead to better health outcomes, reducing medical expenses for waterborne diseases.
Over time, this will free up resources for education, investment, and savings, thereby strengthening the economic resilience of the entire community.
Governor Badilisha was joined at the commissioning by Githioro MCA Hon. Isaac Mbae and his Wanjohi counterpart Hon. Isaac Kung’u, as part of his ongoing development tour of Githioro Ward.
The tour aims to inspect, launch, and accelerate key infrastructure projects that are transforming service delivery across the sub-county.
With clean, reliable, and affordable water now flowing in Gathiriga, the community stands on the threshold of a new chapter, one marked not only by restored dignity but by renewed economic opportunity.
