Uriri MP Mark Nyamita and Migori County Minister for Water and Energy Rebecca Ghati at a water Kiosk at Sibuoche market

By TIMOTHY MBAYA

Migori County Government and Uriri constituency have agreed to work together to increase access to clean water by residents in the area.

Through a joint operation, area Member of Parliament Mark Nyamita and County Minister for Water and Energy Rebecca Ghati alongside her Environment counterpart Kepha Nyamita led an exercise to identify water sources in the constituency.

The exercise was conducted in West Kanyamkago ward where MP Nyamita said was worse hit with acute water shortage in the recent dry season.

According to the MP the ward had also recorded the highest number of deaths per day according reports forwarded to his office from the constituency.

Women queue for water at a water kiosk at Sibouche market

The leaders visited 14 water points including boreholes and water springs and  3 dams some of which had dried up that served West Kanyamkago residents.

The leaders including the area Member of County Assembly  Peter Mijungu declared the lack of water a disaster in the constituency.

“Residents in this ward are having a hard time accessing water with some of them forced to even buy dirty water because they have no alternative,” area MP Nyamita said.

Nyamita said the residents risked contracting water born diseases as some bore holes  and springs were not well cased.

The MP also urged the county government to fast track the completion of boreholes that were drilled and lie underutilized at Osogo dispensary and Sibuoche Primary School.

But speaking at several stop overs during the tour, the County Minister for Water said she understood the agony women go through in search for water and will move in swift to resolve access to water.

“Women have no time to sleep as they move day and night in search of water. This put them at the risk of being attacked or even being sexually assaulted,” Ghati said.

Mark Nyamita and Rebecca Ghati at a dried up Ogada dam

Ghati said the water shortage had gravely affected many families’ intimate life as families have little time together.

“People of Uriri are dying because of water and women are also not able to conceive because they are always out in search of water,” the Minister said.

The County Minister for water and energy said they were going to pool resources together with the constituency to enable the residents get clean water.

“The water most of you are using is not fit for consumption that is why we are going to work very fast together with your MP to bring you clean water,” she said.

Mark Nyamita and Rebecca Ghati at Nyarongi Kopere

Minister for Environment Kepha Nyamita urged residents to protect water points by planting water friendly trees.

“The county government is also issuing trees free of charge so that our people can plant to help protect water catchment areas,” the Minister  said.

He also urged residents not to do farming within 30 meters along river banks and springs.

Area MCA Mijungu pledged to prioritize water in his budgetary allocation for the West Kanyamkago ward.

They were joined by South Kanyamkago MCA Graham Kagali and Florence Oile who agreed to support the area MP, the two County Ministers to ensure Uriri residents get clean water.

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