More than 40,000 residents of the Utawala-Githunguri area are set to benefit from improved access to clean water following the completion of the Utawala Last-Mile Water Connectivity Project, which is expected to begin supplying households from August.
The project is expected to improve access to safe drinking water by expanding the existing distribution network. This addresses a long-standing challenge that has forced many households to rely on saline borehole water and irregular water supply.
For years, the residents have struggled with limited access to clean water, with many households receiving piped water for only about two days each week despite rapid population growth in the area. The prolonged shortages have forced many families to depend on borehole water, which residents say contains high levels of salinity and is unsuitable for daily household use.
Muthwani Residents Association Chairperson Denis Oyunge described the project as a major milestone that could significantly improve access to clean water while contributing to Kenya's efforts to achieve Sustainable Development Goal Six. According to Oyunge, the area currently receives about 9,000 cubic metres of water against an estimated demand of 30,000 cubic metres, leaving a daily deficit of about 21,000 cubic metres.
The project is expected to serve 191 estate courts. Mavoko Water and Sewerage Company Managing Director Raphael noted that previous delays were largely due to limited resources.