The Cabinet Secretary Water, Sanitation and Irrigation Hon. Zachariah Njeru yesterday officially inspected and commissioned water and sanitation projects in Nyeri County.

The CS began his tour by first visiting the TANA WWDA office where he was received by the CEO Eng. Philip Gichuki and board Chair. He further addressed the entire staff members accompanied by the board members drawn from various institutions of both national and county governments.

 CS Njeru mentioned that his first tour of duty had just started by visiting TANA WWDA. He revealed that he intends to visit all other water agencies across the country.

The CS informed the Nyeri County leadership that two dams, Gura and Muhoya, have been identified and earmarked for construction in order to store water for Irrigation and domestic use.

This is in line with President Ruto’s vision where has said that his government has prioritized the construction and expansion of dams to rebuild agriculture. He noted that dams hold immense power to stimulate food production as it cuts over-reliance on rain-fed agriculture.

The Government plans to build 100 large and 1,000 small dams, thereby increasing the acreage under irrigation from the current 670,000 to 3 million.

Irrigation is the most transformational intervention the country can undertake in agriculture.

Later in the afternoon the CS Njeru commissioned Matuto Primary school borehole water project using solar panels and the groundbreaking of Kiawara Decentralized Wastewater treatment facility undertaken through Kenya Towns Sustainable Water and Sanitation Project.

Mr. Pius Murugu the County Commissioner Nyeri received the CS and delegation in his office before escorting him to the office of the Governor Nyeri County H.E Mutahi Kahiga. The Senator Nyeri County Hon. Wahome Wamatinga and MPs John Kaguchia for Mukurweini constituency were in attendance including his counterparts MPs of Othaya and Kieni West.